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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


W 


1.0 


I.I 


2.0 


■■ii4 

1.25  II  U    ill  1.6 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Micro,  eproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibllographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 


D 
D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


0 
D 
0 
0 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


D 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


I    Jl    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  di^ttortion 


D 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6td  filmdes. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partisllement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6ti  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


□    This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  decrement  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Izaak  Walton  Killam  Memorial  Library 
Dalhousie  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
gdn^rositd  de: 

Izaak  Walton  Killam  Memorial  Library 
Dalhousie  University 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'exempiaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
Iq  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  miciofiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "t^  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upoer  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  §tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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'..i".\  *' ■  .'■■' ''. 


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feii»i>....J..--v 


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«PIHM'U    •^-■^'■mm 


TAN  PIIsE  JIM 


OR 


A  YANKEE  WAIF 


AMONG  THE  BLUENOSES 


BY 


B.   FREEMAN    ASHLEY 


rLLUSTRATED 


Chicago 
LAIRD  &  LEE,  Publishers 


'L'70'^°> 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  eighteen 

hundred  and  ninety-four,  by 

LAIRD  &  LEE, 

In  the  ofBce  of  the  Liorarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 

(ALL  RJGHTS  RBSEHVED.) 


■"  ■"■■  .■"^-^■!' 


TABIeE  OF  60NTBNTS 


■'n 


OBAFTKB.                                                                                                              "■'  PAO«. 

I.  A  Bundle  of  Life .9 

II.  Aunt  Well-Well 15 

III.  The  Tanner's  Offer 23 

IV.  Trying  Himself  On 29 

V.  Nebuchadnezzar  Gets   It 37 

VI.  Signed  and  Sealed     - 45 

VII.  A  Handy  Fish  Market 55 

VIII.  Putting  His  Foot  Down 65 

IX.  A  Feathered  Fish 75 

X.  Jim's  Horse     -- 83 

XI,  A  Bachelor  Acquaintance 91 

XII.  Shinidniquit  Pond      - 105 

XIII.  Troubles  of  a  Corkscrew         -         -        -         -        -  115 

XIV.  A  Black-Mouth  Epidemic           -         -         -         -  125 
XV.  An  Invitation  Out 135 

XVI.  At  Sea  Again         - -  145 

XVII.  The  Return  of  the  Dove     -----  155 

XVIII.  Ins  and  Outs  of  Winter           -         -       --    \   -        -  165 

XIX.  A  Palpable  Hit          -         ,        -        -        ..\      -  177 

XX.  Closing  Up  the  Chopping         -         -         -         -        -  187 

XXI.  Running  Of  the  Logs 197 

XXII.  Canoeing  on  Lake  Rossignol           ^        -        -        -  205 

XXIII.  A  Sudden  Call -  217 

XXIV.  A  Cloud  Burst -        -  225 

XXV.  The  Three  Blacks 233 

XXVI.  Striking  the  Highway -  243 

XXVII.  Good-bye  Jim          ----••  249 


ii'VfKiAfiiiniMtAliSh'' 


0 


The  above  cipher  is  placed  there  because  a  preface  gene  -ally  counts  for 
nothing  in  the  reading  of  a  book.  Yet  by  putting  it  there  I  hope  to  detain  the 
reader  fong  enough  upon  the  threshold  of  this  odd  building  to  whisper  in  his  ear 
two  things  before  he  begins  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  folks  who  live 
within. 

And  first,  to  be  generous;  if  you  are  a  boy,  the  book  is  for  you;  and  if  you 
are  a  girl,  walk  in,  and  welcome.  And  if  you  are  a  man.  I  shall  be  glad  of  your 
company;  and  if  you  are  a  woman,  why,  that  will  be  perfectly  splendid! 

And  last,  to  be  just,  as  well  as  generous,  I  must  say  that  I  had  to  describe 
the  things  incloi:>ed  within  just  as  !  found  them.  I  confess  at  the  start  that  there 
are  some  things  which  are  so  odd  they  may  shock;  but  as  I  had  nothing  to  do 
with  the  creation  of  the  people,  nor  with  the  ordering  of  their  affairs,  I  couid 
only  follow  behind  them  and  pick  up  what  they  had  left  upon  the  wayside 
of  life. 

This  is  all  I  have  to  say  under  the  cipher.  For  the  rest,  both  the  reader 
and  the  author  will  have  to  iake  chances  for  a  friendly  shake  of  the  hand  when 
they  part  company  at  the  end. 

B.  F.  ASHLEY. 


%W'i'  ' 


Jr-"-' 


i«i!i' ji-M\  Jo^  -.iJiS. 


MiHi 


I 


A  BUNDLE  OF  LIFE.       : , 

HE  sun  was  just  rising  over  the  dark 
pine  woods  fringing  tlie  iiigli  hills  bound- 
ing the  eastern  horizon  of  Liverpool,  a 
small  seaport  town  of  southeastern 
Nova  Scotia.  Although  it  was  the 
first  week  in  June  and  the  morning  air 
was  so  crisply  cold,  James  Payzant,  the 
Liverpool  tanner,  ripely  advanced  in 
years,  went  out  to  inspect  his  garden, 
fully  expecting  to  find  its  young  and 
thrifty  spfouts  frost-bitten  to  the  death. 
As  between  himself  and  everything  he 
cultivated  there  seemed  to  be  a  com- 
mon bond  of  sympathy ;  he  chuckled 
warmly  when  he  found  that  his  cher- 
ished plants  were  only  waiting  for  a 
higher  sun  to  give  them  another  lift  toward  maturity. 

The  Tanner's  quaint,  old-fashioned  cottage  overlooked  the  banks  of  a  small 
river,  whose  waters  ran  rapidly  toward  the  sea,  which,  only  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  away,  incessantly  thundered  along  a  rough,  rock-ribbed  shore.  Above  the 
cottage  stood  a  large  tannery,  surrounded  with  heaps  of  unground  bark  and  piles 
of  red  refuse  that  raised  their  heads  to  eight  or  ten  feet  in  height,  the  material 


■i'V^i 


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■  OKiiii  ifn  ti  in 


10 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


of  which  they  were  composed  having  served  its  purpose  and  been  cast  aside  as 

of  no  further  account. 

Having  satisfied  himself  of  the  safety  of  his  garden,  the  Tanner  moved  in 

the  direction  of  the  tannery  with  the  intention  of  opening  its  doors  to  the  light 

and  air  before  returning  to  the  cottage  for  breakfast.     In  passing  one  of  the  piles 

of  rubbish  he  was  suddenly  brought  to  a  halt  by  something  that  appeared  to 

be  alien  to  the  place. 

Climbing  to  the  top  of  one  of  the  piles  and  looking  down  at  a  good-sized  bundle 

before  him,  he  exclaimed  softly:    "Bless  my  soul,  if  it  isn't  a  boy!" 

Vagrants  are  scarce  in  that  neigh  • 
borhood,  and  a  boy  lying  around 
loose  at  that  time  of  the  morning, 
and  in  such  a  place  as  that,  would 
have  been  quite  startling  to  his 
nerves  had  he  been  in  the  habit  of 
thinking  of  himself  as  possessed  of 
£  .ch  things. 

The  boy  was  sound  asleep.  His 
cap  had  slipped  from  his  head,  ex- 
posing a  thick  shock  of  matted, 
curly,  brown  hair,  that  here  and 
there  blended  with  the  tan  dust  in 
which  it  lay.  His  face,  hands  and 
bare  feet  were  tanned  to  almost  the 
color  of  his  hair,  showing  that  he 
was  accustomed  to  outdoor  life  and 
that  he  and  the  sun  were  no  stran- 
gers to  each  other.  His  clothes 
were  soiled  and  ragged.  He  had 
evidently  hollowed  out  the  top  of  the 
heap  with  a  view  to  his  protection, 
and,  besides,  had  curled  himself  as 


THE  TANNER  FINDS  JTM. 


crookedly  as  he  could  for  the  sake  of  economizing  his  heat  as  much  as  possible. 

Looking  at  him  on  an  empty  stomach,  he  was  vexed  to  find  such  a  soiled 
bundle  of  humanity  marring  the  eminent  respectability  of  his  premises,  and 
suspecting  the  lad  was  shamming  sleep,  the  Tanner  roughly  said:  "Look  here, 
you!     What  are  you  doing  there?" 

A  smile  crossed  the  face  of  the  sleeper,  to  be  followed  the  next  instant  by 


wm 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


11 


)ok  of  grief  and  fright.     The  lad  was  dreaming.     He  was  in  a  big  house 

ig  on  a  soft  feather  bed  covered  with  a  quilt  ornamented  with  vivid  patches  of 

I,  blue  and  yellow.    While  he  was  making  the  most  of  his  comforts,  a  kind- 

fklng  old  woman  entered  his  room  and  told  nim  that  breakfast  was  waiting, 

that  he  must  hurry  out  of  bed  if  he  wanted  to  partake  of  it  hot  and  nice. 

was  thinking  to  himself  about  mothers,  grandmothers,  aunts  and  angels,  when 

side  of  the  house  fell  out  and  tumbled  him  into  a  snowbank,  and  the  feather 

|d,  quilt  and  old  woman  vanished  in  a  flurry  of  snow.     Just  as  he  was  about  to 

:k  himself  up  an  ugly  giant  made  his  appearance  and,  in  a  voice  of  thunder, 

llled  to  him:     "Look  here,  you!     What  are  you  doing  there?" 

But  this  is  what  the  Tanner  saw:     A  boy  rising  from  the  tan  and  opening 

^on  hm  a  pair  of  large,  pathetic  blue  eyes 

-blue  as  the   morning   sky.     His  face, 

5w  that  he  had  risen  to  a  sitting  posture, 

^oked  pinched  and  haggard,  and  he  was 

livering  all  over  from  the  effects  of  cold 

Ind  fright.  Becoming  thoroughly  ashamed 

pf  his  roughness,  and  anxious  to  remove 

le  lad's  fears,  he  said  in  the  kindest  tones 

ie  could  muster:     "Well,  my  lad!     What 

|n  the  world  are  you  doing  in  such  a  place 

lis  that  at  this  time  of  day?" 

The  effect  was  magical ;  rubbing  both 
[Ists  into  his  eyes  to  remove  the  biting  tan 
iust,  the  boy  replied:     "I  dropped  down 
lere  coz  I  hadn't  no  other  place  to  bunk 
In.      It's  a   mighty  soft   spot,   tho'    it's 
^kinder  outer  doors  like  and  sorter  shivery." 
There  was  just  the  faintest  suggestion 
lof  a  grim  smile  about  his  lips  as  he  spoke, 
[so  that  the  Tanner  began  to  think  there 
[was  more  under  the  rags  and  the  brown  skin  than  he  at  first  thought.     He  was, 
;in  fact,  so  taken  aback  both  bjr  the  words  and  the  evident  spirit  of  the  boy,  he 
'felt  as  if  he  himself  were  put  on  the  defense;  and  it  was  some  seconds  before 
he  knew  what  to  say. 

"Where  did  you  come  from?"  he  finally  managed  to  ask,  though  his  voice 
more  than  half  halted  In  his  throat,  as  if  something  were  trying  to  stop  it  from 
getting  to  his  lips. 


JIM. 


12 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Outen  them  woods,  sir,"  replied  the  boy,  pointing  In  the  direction  of  the 
post  road,  which  for  many  miles  wound  through  a  wilderness  of  pines  and  spruce. 
And  he  added,  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders:  "It  did  seem  ez  ef  I'd  never  git 
through  'em.  An'  when  I  struck  this  town  it  was  past  sundown,  an'  when  I  come 
up  the  road  an'  struck  this  ere  tannery,  an'  seed  the  smoke  crookin'  itself  above 
that  ere  house,  an'  heered  the  water  talkin'  to  the  rocks,  an'  seed  the  tan  piles 
lookin'  so  red  and  soft-like,  I  says  to  myself, 'this  isn't  a  bad  hotel,'  an'  so  I  just 
up  an'  slumped  down  on  it  an'  stowed  myself  away.  It  \vas  kinder  lonely ;  but  I 
dug  into  the  dust  like  a  bug,  an'  while  ther  stars  was  a  blinkin'  at  me  I  shet  my 
eyes,  an'  didn't  know  nothin'  more  till  you  skeered  me  so.  Ef  1  hadn't  a  got  outen 
them  woods  afore  night  they  would  a  skeered  me  most  to  death,  an'  no  mistake." 

Struck  by  his  way  of  putting  things,  and  quickened  into  a  growing  sympathy, 
the  Tanner  asked:   "But  why  didn't  you  call  at  the  house  and  ask  for  a  lodging?" 

"Coz  the  last  place  1  asked  to  stop  at,  the  man  up  an'  told  me  they  didn't 
take  no  rag-bags  to  board." 

"The  brute!"  exclaimed  the  Tanner,  explosively.  And  then  he  asked: 
"Where  did  you  start  from?" 

"Yarmouth,"  said  the  lad,  with  a  promptness  that  showed  he  had  nothing  to 
conceal. 

"But,  bless  my  soul!    Yarmouth  is  more  than  a  hundred  miles  from  here!" 

"I'd  think  it  was  about  a  thousand  by  the  way  the  road  was  stretched,"  the 
boy  replied,  sighing  as  if  the  recollection  made  him  feel  tired. 

"Do  you  belong  in  Yarmouth?" 

"I  reckon  I  doesn't  sir!"  and  the  boy  shook  his  head  vigorously,  adding,  after 
'  a  moment's  pause,  "I'm  a  reg'ler  Yankee  boy." 

"A  Yankee!  and  how  did  you  ever  get  to  Yarmouth?" 
"I  runn'd  frum  a  fishin'  schooner  what  come  frum  Marblehead.  I  was  the 
captin's  cabin  boy,  an'  he  an'  the  rest  uv  'em  slapped  an'  knocked  me  about 
so  much,  I  watched  my  chance,  an'  when  it  come,  I  just  up  and  skipped  ez  fast 
ez  I  could  cut  when  the  captin  took  me  ashore  fer  to  help  bring  the  grub 
aboard." 

"So  you  are  a  runaway?" 

"  'Spose  I  be,"  and  the  lad  gave  a  quick,  anxious  glance  at  the  Tanner, 
as  If  fearing  the  effect  of  the  confession. 

"What  is  your  name?"  and  the  Tanner,  reading  the  boy's  thought,  modu- 
lated his  tones  to  the  utmost  gentleness. 

•Jim."  .  • 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


13 


"Why,  that's  my  name!"  and  the  questioner  started  as  if  some  one  had  given 
|im  a  vigorous  nudge  in  the  side. 

"P'raps,  then,  yer  won't  be  hard  on  a  feller,"  and  the  fear  "melted  out  of  the 
j>oy's  face,  like  snow  from  a  bank  of  green  grsLs. 

"And  your  other  name?"  .  ■"  "' 

"Haint  got  no  nuther  one  ez  I  knows  on." 

"Don't  you  know  your  father's  name?"  '  •-     -    -^ 

"Never  had  no  father,  nor  no  mother,  ez  I  knows  on  ;  guess  they  was  both 
lead  afore  I  was  born'd.     I  come'd  frum  the  poorhouse,  where  they  jist  kick  yer 
iroun'  ez  ef  yer  was  a  dog  what  hadn't 
10  business  to  be  even  there."     He 
spoke  with  such  melancholy  frankness, 
Ithe  Tanner  instinctively  refrained  from  /' 
[questioning  him  further  about  his  rela-  // 
fives.     And  he  inwardly  congratulated//'^ 
himself  that  his  wife  didn't  hear  his' 
first  hail  to  the  boy  as  he  lay  asleep  on 
the  tan  pile.     "She  would  have  lect- 
ured me  roundly,"  said  he,  to  himself. 
Seeing  him  hesitate,  the  boy  volun- 
tarily said:     "I  come'd  frum  Marble- 
head,  an'  I  knows  I  was  bQrn'd  there, 
coz  I  hain't  none  uv  yer  blam'd  fur- 
riners  what  talks  all  aroun*  the  compass 
afore   they   kin    make  yer  unnerstan' 
anything." 

At   this,  his  listener  made  such  a  ^hv  tanner. 

queer  sound  in  his  throat,  Jim  could  only  think  of  the  rolling  of  an  empty  barrel. 
It  was  the  Tanner's  way  of  laughing  when  he  didn't  know  whether  to  laugh  or 
to  cry.  ■      ■     ,,  . '  ■    . 

"Where  do  you  expect  to  fetch  up,  my  lad?" 

"Dunno,sir ;  but  I'm  boun'  to  leg  it  frum  the  schooner  ez  fur  ez  I  kin.  Like 
ernough  I'll  strike  Marblehead  agin,  ef  I  keeps  on  goin'  long  ernough.  It's  awful 
lor.cGGiiie  when  yer  gits  outen  the  States!" 

He  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  was  busy  shaking  the  red  dust  and  chips  from  his 
hair  and  clothing,  as  if  making  ready  for  another  day's  tramp  through  a  strange 
land.  Seeing  the  kindling  kindness  in  the  Tanner's  face,  and  not  having  eaten 
anything  since  noon  of  the  day  before,  he  said:     "P'raps  yer  won't  mind  glvln*  a 


%» 


iunsi('>iiif.'. 


■*ii*'i  kU{:,\!  iuf,  m'dfelw  liumutM:.  ^ ■^^, 


14 


TAN  PILE  vJIM 


feller  a  snack  of  sunlhin'  afore  he  goes  on.     '  Pears  like  ez  ef  I  hadn't  et  nothin' 
for  a  week,  an'  you  begins  to  look  kinder  meller  an'  givin'  like." 

•'Confound  it!  What  have  1  been  thinking  cf  all  this  time!"  And  the 
Tanner  spoke  with  such  force  the  boy  was  actually  ^-.tartled.  "Come,  Jim  ;  I 
haven't  breakfasted  yet.  Go  with  me,  and  you  shall  have  a  good,  warm  break- 
fast, i  didn  t  know  that  1  was  stupid 
enough  to  keep  on  questioning  you 
when  1  should  have  been  feeding 
you." 

Mr.  Payzant  was  not  in  the  habit 
of  making  apologies  to  stragglers,  but 
the  roughness  of  his  first  words  so 
rankled  in  his  mind,  and  the  boy  was 
so  sprightly  and  independent,  he  felt 
apologetic  all  the  way  from  his  head 
to  his  feet. 

The  thought  of  a  warm  breakfast 
and  the  tone  of  the  Tanner's  words 
so  wrought  upon  the  lively  imagina- 
tion of  the  boy,  he  smiled  from  ear  to 
ear,  showing  rows  of  teeth  that  looked 
like  strings  of  pearls  stowed  away  in 
a  crimson  box. 

Both  the  smile  and  the  teeth 
pleased  the  Tanner,  and  he  inwardly 
TOOK  HOLD  OF  JIM'S  BEGRIMED  HAND.  sald".  "Though  he  Is  SO  awfully  ragged 
and  dirty,  I  don't  believe  he's  a  bad  boy ;  but,  good  or  bad,  he  shall  have  his  fill 
for  once."  The  Tanner  was  accustomed  to  thinking  of  the  best  side  of  things, 
and  where  some  other  people  would  find  only  black  pebbles  he  could  most 
always  manage  to  pick  up  a  white  one.  ■'^ 

As  if  half  afraid  that  the  waif  would  slip  away  from  him,  and  thus  prevent  him 
from  making  an  atonement  for  the  rough  way  in  which  he  first  spoke  to  him,  he 
took  hold  of  Jim's  begrimed  hand  and  led  him  to  the  cottage  below  the  tannery. 


fi  t  iiii '  I)  'ill*  lAiiitfimifrilrtii  'im 


AUNT  WELL- WELL. 

ECKON  I've  struck  the  Grand  Banks 
this  time,  an'  like  ernough  I'll  git  a 
lay  what'll  fill  the  hold  plum  full,'* 
thought  Jim  in  fisherman's  style. 

But  Payzant  was  taking  such  long, 
swift  strides  the  boy  found  it  hard 
work  to  keep  up  with  him.  Happen- 
ing to  glance  down  at  the  lad's  face, 
the  Tanner  saw  that  it  was  looking  a 
little  queer,  and  thinking  it  might  be 
from  fear,  he  said:  "You  needn't  be 
afraid,  my  boy ;  Ruth  won't  eat  you 
up." 

Who    Ruth  was,  the  lad   had   no 
means    of    knowing;    but    seeing  a 
twinkle  in  the  speaker's  eye,  he  re- 
plied:    "Does   I    look   ez  ef   I    was 
good  ernough  to  eat?  "Yet  the  words 
were  accompanied  with  a  short,  crisp 
[sigh,  which  made  the  Tanner  think  of  a  dry  leaf  rustling  under  an  October  wind. 
Ruth  was  the  Tanner's  wife,  who  was  in  the  kitchen  frying  old-fashioned  pan- 
Icakes,  and  wondering  why  her  husband  delayed  his  coming.     She  was  anxiously 
engaged  with  the  last  pancake,  which,  being  designed  for  a  top  blanket  for  all  the 
[rest,  covered  the  bottom  of  the  whole  spider  or  frying  pan.    The  blanket  was  this 

16 


16 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


fe 


anc 
for; 
and 

V      'i 

tod 


Tanner's  favorite,  who  liked,  as  he  said,  to  have  a  pancake  that  would  cover  his 
plate  at  a  single  sitting.  It  was  just  ready  to  be  turned,  when  the  door  opened, 
and  in  walked  the  two  Jims,  hand  in  hand.  Ruth  was  so  surprised,  the  pancake 
might  as  well  have  been  in  Jericho,  so  effectually  was  it  biinished  from  her  I 

thoughts. 

"He  has  come  to  take  bre:kfast  with  us,"  the  Tanner  said,  by  w   y  of  answerl 
to  his  wife's  questioning  eyes,  while  the  embarrassed  boy  stood  twirling  his 

greasy  sailor  cap  uneasily,  as  he  hall 
hid  himself  behind  Payzant's  bigj 
burly  form.  His  first  glance  at  the 
eld  lady's  face  made  him  wish  thai 
he  was  dressed  in  a  new  suit  fronj 
top  to  toe,  and  that  he  was  as  clean 
as  a  whistle,  for  she  looked  so  kinc 
and  good  he  was  anxious  she  shouic 
think  favorably  of  him. 

In  a  few  words,  the  Tanner  toW 
how  he  had  found  the  boy,  and  whaj 
he  was  and  how  hungry  he  was! 
i;  Ruth's  face  began  to  twitch,  anj 
her  own  clear,  blue  eyes  glistened 
with  tears.  The  big  pancake,  noj 
sympathizing  with  her,  grew  blacker] 
and  blacker,  and  presently  began  t 
send  up  a  f-reat  black  cloud,  as 
spreading  wings  with  which  to  ^ 
away  altogether. 

The  Tanner's  wife  was  so  muc 
FRYING  OLD-FASHIONED  PANCAKES.  in  the  habit  of  Saying  "Well,  wellll 

when  she  was  surprised  at  anything,  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  village  called  hd 
Aunt  Well-Well,  and  as  she  had  a  great  liking  for  boys  and  girls,  she  made 
fuss  about  the  nickname,  and  only  smiled  when  some  of  the  older  ones  told  he 
how  generally  the  name  was  used  among  the  young  people. 

"Well,  well!"  she  exclaimed,  pushing  her  silver-bowed  spectacles'  up  intc| 
her  wavy,  gray  hair,  and  reaching  down  for  the  corner  of  her  clean,  ginghar 
apron  that  she  might  give  her  eyes  a  bit  of  a  brush  with  it. 

Although  the  lids  and  the  long  lashes  of  Jim's  eyes  drooped  low,  he  man'! 
aged  to  see  all  that  was  going  on,  and  he  whispered  in  his  heart:    "Blest  ef  11 


2^ 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


17 


hain't  run  inter  the  sou'west  corner  o'  kingdom  come,  an'  that  ol',  gray-headed 
beauty  hain't  a  goin'  to  go  back  on  ol'  Mister  Jim'^,  kalkerlashuns  fer  this  chap's 
carger.     She's  a  goin'  to  give  me  a  reg'ler  fill,  and  no  mistake!" 

"Well,  well!  There  goes  that  blessed  pancake!"  Ruth  suddenly  ^*,xclaimed, 
coming  to  a  realization  of  its  condition,  for  the  smoke  of  it  had  well  nigh  filled 
the  room.  Seizing  the  pan,  she  dashed  out  of  the  kitchen  door,  the  two  Jims 
hastily  making  room  for  her;  nor  did  she  stop  until  the  blaze,  fanned  into  life  by 
her  rapid  movements,  was  quenched  by  throwing  pan  and  contents  into  the  little 
brook  that  babbled  through  the  backyard. 

"Ef  I  hadn't  a  come  in,  I  might  a  had  ernuther  pancake,"  thought  the  boy, 
regretfully,  as  his  ej'es  followed  her  to  the  final  catastrophe. 

"His  name  is  Jim," -said  the  Tanner,  by  way  of  introduction,  when  she  re- 
turned to  the  kitchen,  "and  it  wouldn't  do  him  any  harm  if  he  took  a  wash  before 
breakfast." 

"Jim!"  she  gasped,  as  if  trying  to  collect  her  scattered  wits.  "Well,  well! 
But  that  is  strange!" 

Leading  the  lad  to  the  sink,  she  bade  him  help  himself  to  soap  and  water, 
and  while  he  was  making  soapsuas  at  a  wholesale  rate  and  scrubbing  his  face 
and  hands  after  a  signally  zealous  fashion,  she  did  a  very  strange  thing. 
Entirely  forgetting  the  vagrant  character  of  her  unexpected  guest,  she  went  to 
the  spare  chamber  near  by  and  brought  out  a  large,  linen  towel  and  a  hair  brush, 
neither  cf  which  had  ever  been  used.  Tne  Tanner,  seeing  how  absent  minded 
she  had  become,  became  so  merry  he  shook  like  a  bottle  of  quick  silver. 

"There,'*  said  she,  putting  both  articles  in  the  boy's  hands,  "these  will 
sharpen  your  appetite  if  you  use  them  rightly."  She  then  left  him  to  perform 
his  toilet  at  leisure,  the  Tanner  also  getting  out  of  the  way  to  relieve  the  boy 
from  embarrassment. 

"May  I  be  keel-hauled,  ef  I'm  a  gonter  spile  them  things  on  this  critter!" 
[said  Jim,  looking  first  at  the  neatly  folded,  snow-white  towel,  and  then  at  the 
[spick-span,  new  brush.        - 

Seeing  a  ragged  face  cloth  hanging  on  the  wall  near  the  sink  he  appropri- 
{ated  it  without  compunction,  after  carefully  depositing  brush  and-  towel  upon  the 
corner  of  a  rough  table  standing  near     When  he  had  scoured   his  face  and 
[hands  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  he  drew  from  his  pocket  a  fragment  of  a  comb, 
which  he  began  to  pull  through  his  tangled  locks  with  great  energy,  notwithstand- 
ing the  pain  the  operation  caused  him. 

A  small  looking-glass  hung  over  the  sink,  which  he  patronized'liberally  during 
Tan  Pile  Jlin  2. 


iMii 


miiiii 


:8 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


his  toil.  Encouraged  by  the  improvement  made  in  his  appearance,  he  looked 
downward  at  his  bare  feet,  saying:  "Them's  got  to  toe  the  mark,  too,  an'  that 
brook  out  there  is  jist  the  place  to  shine  'em  up." 

He  accordingly  went  to  the  brook  with  soap  and  rag,  and  gave  his  feet  and 
legs  puch  a  scrubbing  that  they  soon  began  to  shine  In  the  sun  like  the  nether 
extremities  of  a  bronze  statue. 

"Well,  well!"  exclaimed  Ruth,  when  he  returned,  "you  almost  frighten  me  ; 
you  look  so  different." 

"I  didn't  mean  to  turn  myself  into  a  skeer-crow,  mum,"  he  replied, smilingly, 
and  showing  his  nice  teeth  to  her  for  the  first  time,  and  making  the  same 

impression  upon  her   he   had  already 
made  upon  the  Tanner. 

As  if  it  were  the  most  natural  thing 
in  the  world  for  her  to  do  under  the 
circumstances,  she  stepped  up  to  him 
and,  laying  her  hand  gently  on  his 
brow,  pushed  his  head  back  softly  to 
enable  her  to  look  down  into  his  eyes 
more  easily,  and  then,  as  if  more  than 
satisfied,  she  bent  over  him  and  kissed 
him  upon  the  forehead.  The  touch  of 
-*«  those  lips  was  too  much  for  the  forti- 
tude of  the  homeless  lad.  Beginning 
to  gasp  and  strangle,  he  crossed  his 
arms  over  his  face,  and  suddenly  turn- 
ing himself  to  the  wall,  he  sobbed  as  if 
he  would  shake  himself  to  pieces. 

The  lover's  kiss  is  not  the  most 
sacred  Kiss  in  the  world.  There  had 
once  been  an  only  son  under  the 
Tanner's  roof,  who  was  named  after 
his  father.  He  had  grown  up  to  sturdy  manhood  and  had  become  the  skipper 
of  a  fishing  smack.  The  schooner  was  lost  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland  with 
all  on  board,  and  when  Ruth  kissed  the  forlorn  Jim.  who  had  made  a  morning 
visit  to  her  home,  she  was  thinking  not  only  of  the  lad  before  her,  but  also  of 
the  boy  she  had  mourned  so  long.  No  wonder  that  a  sudden  gust  of  rain  swept 
through  the  morning  sky.  and  that  the  Tanner  and  his  wife  dared  not  look  each 
other  In  the  face  lest  the  old  sorrow  should  get  the  upper  hand  again.    The  sight 


"MAT  T  BE  KEEL-HAULED. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


19 


the  third  chair  at  the  table  didn't  mend  matters,  and  when  they  sat  down  and 
|e  Tanner  tried  to  say  grace,  he  made  such  a  stumbling  piece  of  work  of  It  the 
|>y  began  to  think  that  grace  was  being  said  in  a  foreign  language,  it  sounded 

strangely. 

Happily  for  all  three,  a  big  white  cat  that  looked  like  a  fragment  of  a  snow 
jink,  after  looking  at  the  boy  a  moment,  sprang  up  into  his  lap,  and  even  went 

far  as  to  put  its  fore  paws  upon  the  table,  as  if  contemplating  a  still  further 
>e  in  life. 

"Scat,  you  hussy!"  exclaimed  Ruth,  so  energetically  that  the  cat,  in  its  hurry 
[descend,  lost  its  balance  and  fell  to  the  floor  like  a  piece  of  lead,  which  was  so 
mifestly  a  strange  thing  for  a  cat  to  do  that  all  three  broke  into  a  laugh,  and 
[the  rainstorm  disappeared  and  all  three  were  ready  for  business. 


"WELL,  EF  I  HAIN'T  A  REGLER  MILLYIINEER."  -  ;  '. 

Jim's  eyes  wandered  over  the  table  in  spite  of  himself.  Such  a  table  as  it 
is,  to  be  sure!  So  clean  and  tidy;  so  different  from  the  rough  deck  and  the 
plate  and  cup  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  eating  from  on  board  the 
:hooner. 

And  the  food!     It  was  enough  to  make  any  sound  boy  believe  that  the  chief 

id  of  boys  was  to  eat,  drink  and  be  merry.     Genuine  coffee,  thick  cream,  white 

jgar  and  a  broad,  white,  shiny,  deep  plate  holding  a  perfect  sea  of  the  nicest 

|ind  of  oatmeal  porridge,  over  which  Ruth  poured  a  thick  flood  of  real  cream. 

^nd.  besides,  there  were  fried  trout  and  potatoes!     But  when  Ruth,  after  he 

iad  picked  two  whole  trout  to  the  very  bones,  placed  before  him  another  clean 

Slate  with  pancakes  on  it  four  deep,  topped  with  a  crown  of  golden  butter,  and 


.:.-:■■;.. ti 


I 


20 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


set  the  whole  to  swimming  in  torrents  of  amber-colored  maple  syrup,  which  no 
more  rer.embled  the  black  "lasses"  he  used  to  eat  with  his  hardtack  scouse, 
than  honey  resembles  tar,  Jim  lost  all  control  of  himself,  and  before  he  knew 
what  ht  was  about,  said:  -Well,  ef  I  hain't  a  reg'ler  millyuneer  at  last,  layin' 
ernough  in  the  locker  to  keep  me  goin'  for  a  hull  week.'  " 

The  Tanner  and  his  wife  grew  merry  at  this,  and  from  laughing  they  passed 
on  to  such  lively,  homely  home  talk  that  the  boy  was  made  to  feel  entirely  at 
his  ease,  without  appearing  in  the  least  bold  or  out  of  place. 

Little  by  little  the  Tanner  an  '  his  wife  turned  the  conversation  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  history.  It  was  not  much  they  could  glean  from  him,  save  that  his 
life  had  been  a  sort  of  perpetual  poverty  blank  of  hardship  and  homelessness. 

After  breakfast  the  Tanner  read  a  long  chapter  from  the  Bible  and  prayed  a 
very  long  prayer,  as  was  his  wont.  Indeed,  the  prayer  was  so  long  Jim's  knees 
began  to  ache;  but  presently  his  heart  began  to  ache  worse  than  his  knees.  The 
Tanner  was  saying  something  about  "the  orphan  in  our  midst."  At  first  the  boy 
didn't  quite  understand  what  was  meant  by  the  term,  and  was  asking  himself: 
"What  is  a  orphin,  anyway?  I  never  heerd  on  'em  afore;  must  be  some  kind  uv 
a  British  critter." 

But  when  the  droning  voice  of  the  Tanner  grew  more  and  more  tender,  and 
the  references  became  more  and  more  distinct  and  personal,  the  boy  was  so 
startled  he  came  near  exclaiming  aloud:  "I'm  blest  ef  he  doesn't  mean  me! 
But  what's  the  use  on't?  It'll  all  be  over  in  the  next  jMffy,  an'  I'll  be  cuttin' 
down  the  road  as  skeery  as  ever,  an'  it'll  be  a  long  time  afore  I  gits  Into 
ernother  sich  a  port!"  C...V 

When  he  stood  on  his  bare  feet  again,  so  that  he  could  straighten  himself 
up  and  get  the  kinks  out  of  his  legs,  he  walked  right  up  to  the  Tanner,  and,  after 
fumbling  among  the  rags  of  his  garment  for  some  time,  to  the  great  surprise  of 
the  Tanner  and  his  wife,  he  pulled  out  a  little,  battered  book  which,  though  badly 
soiled,  looked  as  if  it  had  seen  better  days. 

"Mr.  Jim,"  said  he,  looking  the  Tanner  squarely  in  the  face,  "mebbe  you 
thinks  I'm  only  a  critter,  coz  I  skipped  frum  the  schooner;  ef  you'll  look  at  that, 
like  ernough  you'll  think  diff'runt.  " 

Astonished  by  his  woras,  as  well  as  by  his  action,  Payzant  placed  his  spec- 
tacles upon  his  nose,  and,  opening  the  book,  discovered  that  it  was  a  small 
Testament. 

"Weil,  well!"  said  Ruth,  looking  through  her  glasses  over  her  husband's 
shoulder,  and  giving  mild  expression  to  her  strong  feelings. 

Testaments  were  no  novelty  in  that  house,  nor  were  they  scarce  In  the 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


21 


jighborhood;  but  a  Testament  in  the  pocket  of  a  boy  who  was  dependent  upon 
tan  pile  for  a  bed  seemed  rather  out  of  place.  In  the  simplicity  of  her  heart, 
iuth  was  a  bit  puzzled.  She  as  good  as  thought  that  either  the  book  was  out 
place  or  the  boy  was,  and  so  she  didn't  exactly  know  whether  to  blame  the 
3y  or  Providence  for  letting  him  wander  around  in  such  a  homeless  style.  If 
\e  truth  must  be  told,  in  the  end  she  came  dangerously  near  reflecting  upon  the 
risdom  of  Providence,  as  people  will  once  in  awhile. 


BUTH  WAS  A  BIT  PUZZLED. 


"Where  did  you  get  this?"  the  Tanner  asked,  softly. 

"An  or  woman,  what  was  my  friend  afore  1  went  to  the  poorhouse,  when  she 
[died  guv  it  to  me.  an'  reckoned  it  belonged  to  my  mother.  She  said  I  was  to 
hang  onter  it  ez  long  ez  I  lived." 

"Can  you  read  it?"  asked  Ruth,  feeling  for  the  corner  of  her  apron. 

"No'm;  leastwise,  not  much.  When  I  gits  kinder  down  in  the  mouth  an' 
sorter  what's-a-gonter-come-uv-like,  I  scratches  at  it  here  an'  there,  an'  spells 


Im^^Mk^. 


mt 


22 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


out  some  kinder  nice  things  what  makes  me  feel  quite  chipper  again,  so  that  I 

ups  an'  digs  ez  ef  I  felt  a  whiff  of  spring  wind  a  blowin'. 

"Well,  well!  1  just  do  declare!"  said  Ruth,  as  she  nervously  took  the  book 
from  her  husband's  hand  and  began  to  turn  over  the  leaves  as  if  they  were  made 
of  beaten  gold.  An  inscription  on  the  fly  leaf  attracted  her  attention.  In  dim 
Ink  but  distinct  letters,  written  in  a  fair  feminine  hand,  she  read:  "Mrs  Mary 

Jane  Mu ";  the  rest  of  the  last  name  being  torn  off.     Below  was  written: 

"Salem,  Mass,"  and  a  date  which  was  too  d'm  to  be  deciphered. 

"Ruth,  come  here,"  said  the  Tanner,  abruptly,  as  he  turned  away  and  mo- 
tioned her  to  follow  him  into  a  little  side  room.  The  Testament  went  \^  ith  them, 
as  if  they  were  loth  to  let  it  go  out  of  their  hands;  and  if  it  was  a  respectable 
Testament  it  must  have  been  quite  tickled  at  the  course  things  were  taking. 

Left  standing  alone  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  Jim  began  to  tremble  all  over. 
and  he  felt  so  weak,  notwithstanding  the  hearty  breakfast  he  had  eaten,  he  sat 
down  on  the  outer  edge  of  a  chair,  from  which  he  looked  down  at  the  floor  and 
through  the  floor,  and  through  the  earth,  with  a  far-off  look  in  his  eyes  that  was 
enough  to  make  an  angel  wish  for  the  corner  of  Rutn's  clean  apron.  All  the 
while  he  was  listening  to  the  low  murmur  of  voices  coming  from  the  adjoining 
room.  Perhaps  they  were  waiting  for  him  to  go  away.  But  he  couldn't  think 
of  going  without  getting  his  book  back  again  and  thanking  them  for  his  breakfast. 

While  he  sat  there  wondering  what  would  happen  next,  the  Tanner  reappeared, 
followed  by  his  wife.  The  moment  the  Testament,  which  had  been  carried  with 
them  in  a  fit  of  absent-mindedness,  was  handed  back  to  the  boy  he  dropped  it 
into  his  pocket,  and  rising,  made  ready  to  go  forth  into  the  world  again. 

He  was  about  to  thank  them  for  his  breakfast,  when  the  Tanner,  seating  him- 
self with  great  deliberation,  said:     "Sit  down,  my  lad." 

Ruth  had  seated  herself  in  a  low  rocking  chair  and  was  rocking,  and  smooth- 
ing the  creases  out  of  her  apron. 

Jim  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  and  thought  to  himself,  "They  jist  look  ez 
ef  they  was  a  haulin'  into  the  wind  for  sunthin'  what  had  run  smack  across  their 
hawser." 


i'^-- 


KekPTcr  m 


!'!^^ 


„^f«J 


THK  TANNERS  OPB'ER. 


IM,"   began  the  Tanner,  with   a  kindly 

look  at  the  boy,  while  Ruth  was  nervously 

fumbling  among  the  folds  of  her  apron, 

"how  would  you  like  to  board  with  us  all 

-^''<     the  time?" 

Jim's  heart  jumped  into  his  throat  and 
his  eyes  flamed  with  eagerness,  and  he 
stammered  with  a  quick  breath,  "Ef  you'll 
take  me  on  deck  with  you  I'll  stand 
double  watch  an'  never  git  lazy  nur 
sleepy." 

The  Tanner  was  a  man  of  few  words, 
but  what  he  said  generally  went  straight 
to  the  mark  without  aid  of  the  dictionary; 
and  he  said,  as  his  face  brightened  with 
a  smile,  "It's  settled  then;  you  shall 
stay  here." 

"Does  you  mean  it,  Mr.  Jim?  does 

you  mean  it  up  an'  down  for  sure  an'  no  mistake?"  asked  the  boy,  standing  up 

and  facing  the  Tanner  with  several  tangle  marks  lacing  his  brow. 

"Yes,  my  boy,"  answered  Ruth,  "with  all  our  hearts  we  mean  it." 

"Hurrah!"  and  quick  as  a  flash,  he  turned  a  summersault,  and  when  he  got 

his  flying  limbs  Into  position  again,  he  added,  "I  hain't  no  orphin  any  more,  an' 

28 


24 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


m. 


yer  prayers  has  ketched  on  slick  at  the  furst  throw,  Mr.  Jlml     I'm  in  your  midst 
for  good,  like  a  rock  in  a  tater  field." 

Both  the  Tanner  and  his  wife,  staid  and  quiet  people  as  they  were,  came  near 
keeling  over  in  this  young  and  vigorous  breeze,  and  Ruth,  in  spite  of  her  habitual 
gravity,  smiled  so  broadly  that  Jim  immediately  responded  by  grinning  all  over 
like  a  picture  in  a  comic  almanac. 

Controlling  himself  as  best  he  might,  yet  shaking  around  his  waistband  like 
the  mainsail  of  a  schooner  making  a  tack,  the  Tanner  went  on  to  drop  a  few  more 
words  into  Jim's  happy  ears. 

"My  name  is  James  Payzant,"  said  he,  "and  I  have  told  you  that  her's  is 
Ruth.  You  may  call  us  father  and  mother  if  you  want  to.  We  shall  call  you 
son,  and  your  name  shall  be  James  Mu  Payzant.  This  is  your  home  now,  and 
we  shall  try  to  treat  you  just  the  same  as  if  you  were  born  in  the  house.  There 
is  something  about  you  that  makes  us  believe  in  you.  and  we  are  not  going  to  be 
disappointed  in  you;  and  we  hope  that  you  will  believe  in  us,  and  that  we  shall 
not  disappoint  you." 

Jim's  eyes  were  opening  at  a  fearful  rate,  and  his  face  was  playing  all  sorts 
of  antics,  and  to  relieve  himself,  he  said:  "An'  may  1  up  an'  kiss  Missus  Mother 
for  myself,  an'  no  mistake?" 

"Yes,  and  hug  me,  too,  answered  Ruth,  extending  her  arms  by  way  of 
encouragement,  for  she  was  no  halfway  woman  with  good  im.pulses  limping 
along  on  lame  legs. 

Daintily  kissing  her  on  the  right  cheek,  Jim  hastily  withdrew  himself  from 
her  warmly  enfolding  arms,  and,  looking  down  at  his  ragged  garments,  pathetic- 
ally said:  "I  hain't  fit  to  kiss  a  schooner  pump  in  this  rig;  but,  howsumever,  the 
orphin  what  Mr.  Jim  prayed  about  has  gone  up  the  spout,  an'  I  hain't  a  Dick  no 
longer." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  saying  that  you  are  not  a  Dick  any  longer?"  asked 
the  Tanner,  hardly  Knowing  whether  to  be  amused  or  shocked. 

"Why,  when  I  was  comin'  through  them  woods  yisterday  I  gits  kinder 
skeer'd,  an'  pulls  out  my  book  an'  begins  to  read,  an'  the  fust  place  I  gits  onto 
Is  the  story  about  Dick  what  hadn't  no  father  an'  no  mother,  an'  says  I  to 
myself  'that's  jist  your  fix,  Jim!'  An'  it  makes  me  feel  ez  ef  I  had  a  hull 
pockltful  uv  company  when  I  stuck  the  book  back  Into  my  pocklt.  an'  I  went 
erlong  ez  slick  ez  a  codfish  what  runs  away  with  a  line  " 

"But  there  is  no  Dick  in  the  New  Testament,"  corrected  the  Tanner,  mildly. 

"An  there  s  where  you  is  out,  Mr.  Jim,"  was  the  quick,  frank  reply.  ''His 
first  name  was  Mel  an'  his  next  Cheeser  an'  his  lastist  name  was  Dick.     I 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


25 


In't  take  no  stock  in  the  fust  name,  but  the  hind  end  one  went  right  to  the 
)t,  coz  I  has  heerd  it  so  many  times  an'  coz  he  hadn't  no  father  nur  no 
lother.     I  was  nigh  upsot  when  it  said  he  was  a  priest,  coz  I   don't  have  no 
inkerin'  arter  priests  an'  them  sort  o'  critters." 

'The  boy  is  talking  about  Melchisedec!"  exclaimed  Ruth. 
'You've  hit  the  very  feller!     1  know'd  I  wasn't  fur  outen  my  lattertude,  for 
ll  I  hain't  never  been  pickled  in  Scripter." 


"HAVE  YOn  ANCHORED  AT  MR.   PAYZANT'S?"  • 

"Well,  well,  well!"  and  when  Ruth  used  her  favorite  expression  up  Into  the 
threes  and  fours.  It  was  a  sure  sign  that  she  was  at  the  end  of  her  string  as  to  the 
means  of  expressing  astonishment.  "We  shall  have  missionary  work  to  do  here 
In  our  own  house,  and  1  shall  tell  the  preacher  so  the  first  time  he  comes  here 
[for  a  foreign  missionary  contribution." 

"You've  struck  the  bull's  eye.ef  you  means  this  chap,  I  specs  I'm  a  sinner 
Idyed  In  the  wool  from  top  to  toe."     A  cloud  flitted  across  the  boy's  face,  and 


.•iSsassri 


26 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


the  change  was  so  pitiful  the  Tanner's  hysterical  laugh  was  smothered  in  a  low 
gurgle  in  his  throat. 

"Is  you  choking,  Mister  Father?  Ef  you'll  take  a  good  grip  o'  your  nose 
an'  kinder  sock  your  breath,  it'll  knock  the  choke  outen  you  quicker'n  lightnin'." 
What  was  the  Tanner  to  do  with  such  a  tickling  machine  as  this?  He  was 
a  merry  man  in  his  own  way,  though  he  never  allowed  his  mirth  to  tear  holes  in 
his  dignity,  for  he  was  a  church  member,  and  his  pastor  and  fellow  members 
were  rather  apt  to  wear  crape  as  a  part  of  their  every-day  life.  Ruth  came  near 
giggling  like  a  girl  at  Jim's  mistake  about  her  husband's  throat  sounds,  and  this 
time  the  corner  of  her  apron  went  up  to  her  mouth  instead  of  her  eyes. 

Seeing  that  the  Tanner  was  in 
danger  of  losing  his  gravity  alto- 
gether, and.  perceiving  also,  that  if 
he  laughed,  as  he  did  sometimes 
laugh.  Jim  would  be  likely  to  mis- 
understand him  to  his  own  confu- 
sion, she  thought  it  was  high  time 
to  turn  the  stream  in  another  direc- 
tion. 

"It  is  time  you  took  the  boy  down 
to  the  store  and  fitted  him  with 
something  to  wear,"  she  said  to 
her  husband,  removing  the  apron 
from  her  face  and  speaking  in  a 
matter  of  fact  way,  which  set  Jim 
to  thinking  of  possibilities  he  had 
not  yet  included  in  his  good  fortune. 
"To  be  sure."  replied  the  Tanner,  coming  to  his  senses,  "and  what  shall  I 
get  for  him.?" 

Ruth  enumerated  the  things  while  the  Tanner  made  a  note  of  them  upon  a  bit 
of  paper.  Jim  listened  in  astonishment,  and  this  time  in  silence,  for  the  number 
of  the  articles  mentioned  bewildered  him.  He  remembered  his  dream  on  the 
tan  pile  and  was  shivering  lest  the  prospect  of  new  clothes  should  vanish  away 
into  coW  nothingness.  It  was  not  until  the  Tanner  directed  him  to  get  -his  cap 
and  follow  him  to  the  town  that  he  could  convince  himself  that  he  was  living  in" 
a  solid  world.  ,_ 

1    ^h''  ^'^I;'"- ;J^"^^^  Bartlett-lt  must  be  sc  written,  notwithstanding  we  have 
already  written  three  Jims,  for  that  z...  his  given  name,  was  a  retired  sea 


._^^^;^— Tnf-       _       


JIM  TAKES  A  SCRUB. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


27 


iptaln,  who  was  quick  to  discover  thci  the  boy  brought  in  by  his  old  friend,  the 
fanner,  was  a  bunch  of  sea  foam.  He  wondered  what  the  Tanner  was  up  to, 
;t  knew  it  was  useless  for  him  to  undertake  to  pry  into  his  business,  so  he  con- 
jnted  himself  with  looking  like  an  interrogation  point.  He  was  stiff  and 
leumatic  in  his  joints,  yet  managed  to  move  about  his  counters  with  consider- 

le  quickness  while  waiting  upon  the  Tanner  snd  the  boy. 
When  the  purchases  were  completed,  the  Tanner  stocd  a  little  aside  figuring 

the  amount,  while  the  boy  stood  watching  the  shopman  do  up  the  goods. 

Unable  to  keep  silence,  the  boy 


ud:  "Them  things  will  make  a 
jg'ler  clipper  uv  me;  but  I'll  be 
lost  erfraid  to  hist  them  onto  me 
)r  fear  I'll  be  a  scootin'  away  frum 
lyself  the  fust  thing  1  knows." 

"Have  you  anchored  at  Mr.  Pay- 
Eant's?"  asKed  Captain  Bartlett, 
Insinuatingly.  "If  you  have,  you'll 
hnd  yourself  in  a  good  harbor  with 
lots  of  holding  ground." 

'No,  sir;   I'm  not  anchored.     I 

[have  j'ist  run  plum  on  shore,  bow  on 

;an'  high  up,  so  I  can't  never  drift 

J  any    more,   an'    I'm   not  wrecked, 

nuther." 

Beginning  to  suspect  the  lay  of 
the  land,  and  appreciating  the  boy's 
way  of  putting  things,  the  Captain 
offered  to  fit  him  to  a  cap  at  his  own 

^°2*'  "NOW  YOrr  IS  A    SITCK-SPAN,   NEW  CRITTEB." 

"Thank  you,  Captain,"  said  the  Tanner,  coming  up,  "but  I  hope  you  won't  feel 
hurt  for  declining  the  cap.  The  lad  is  in  training  now,  and  that  is  not  the  bast 
way  to  begin  with  him,  you  know." 

"I  hain't  a  beggar  no  more,"  added  Jim,  catching  the  Tanner's  cue  and 
straightening  himself  up.  "I'm  gonter  work  this  lay  out  clear  to  the  flyin'  jib- 
boom."  * 

lat's   business!"  was  the  Captain's  hearty  reply.     "If  you  get  short  of 

owever,  come  to  me,  and  we  will  fix  it  in  that  way." 

en  the  two  returned  to  the  cottage   and    Ruth  had   laid  out  the  suit 


28 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Jim  was  to  put  on,  he  begged  permission  to  make  the  change  down  among 
the  rocks  at  the  river  side.  They  furnished  him  with  towelling  and  soap,  and  he 
disappeared  with  his  bundle  of  wealtii.  After  stripping  himself  under  the  shelter 
of  a  great  rock,  he  scrubbed  and  scrubbed  himself  over  and  over  again,  until  he 
glistened  like  freshly  polished  marble,  spying  to  himself  the  while:  "No  old  boy 
shall  git  into  them  new  duds  " 

Having  put  on  the  new  suit,  from  hat  to  shoes,  he  went  to  the  left  of  the 
rock,  where  the  water  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  and  looking  at  his  reflection 
with  a  feeling  bordering  on  ecstacy,  said: 

"Who'd  a  thought  them  duds  would  a  turned  a  dogfish  bummer  into  a  codfish 
aristockersy?  I'm  copper  bottomed  now  frum  stem  to  starn,an'  shined  up  frum 
windlass  to  wheel,  an'  I'm  goshed  ef  I  don't  have  to  rig  up  a  new  talkin'  tackle, 
too,  for  my  folks  is  jist  slick  ounten  the  Testermunt;  an'  ef  this  rock  only  had  a 
steeple  to  it  I'd  jine  it  for  a  church  to  wunst,  for  1  feel  ez  ef  I  had  more  'ligion'n 
I  kin  git  erway  with  alone." 

In  the  inside  of  his  new,  neat  jacket  he  found  a  pocket,  where  he  carefully 
deposited  the  companion  of  his  hardships  and  wand^nngs.  Taking  his  old  gar- 
ments, and  handling  them  as  gingerly  as  if  he  had  nevar  seen  them  before,  he 
flung  them  far  out  into  the  stream  and  stood  and  watched  them  until  they  disap- 
peared in  the  riffles  below. 

"Now  you  is  a  spick-span,  new  critter,  Jim,"  he  said,  as  he  stood  near  the 
water's  edge,  uncertain  what  next  to  do  with  himself.  "Only  you  musn't  git  to 
feelin'  too  allfired  good  an'  stuck  up.  Folkses  what  does  that  is  jist  like  a 
schooner  what  has  more  mast  than  bottom,  an'  the  fustist  things  they  knows  on 
their  keels  is  turned  up  for  the  gulls  to  roost  on.  an'  their  sails  is  turned  down 
for  the  sharks  to  fight  unner." 


i-v»:/: 


KdPtCT-CZ- 


R 


TRYING   HIMSELF   ON. 

EALLY,  the  new  clothes  made  a  wonderful 
change  in  Jim's  appearance,  and  his  round, 
well-shaped  face  and  head  overtopped  the 
rpst  of  him  to  as  good  advantage  as  a  hand- 
some blossom  overtops  the  leaves  from  which  it 
springs.     When  he  entered  ihe  cottage  the  Tanner 
and  his  wife  were  delighted  with  his  looks,  but  see- 
ing that  he  was  a  little  shy  in  his  new  toggery  they 
said  nothing,  and  went  about  their  usual  duties  as 
if  he  had  lived  there  all  his  days.     While  he  was 
dressing  himself  at  the  river  side,  they  had  agreed 
to  let  the  boy  float  about  a  day  or  so  before  they 
began  to  apply  a  shaping  hand  to  his  character  and 
destiny.     The  Tanner  went  to  the  tannery,  and  his 
wife    went    upstairs    to    make   arrangements   for 
Jim's  sleeping  quarters. 
The  Tanner  had  said  to  Ruth:  "That  boy  has  a  good  head,  and  where  there 
|s  brain  room  there's  a  chance  of  getting  something  into  it.     His  eyes  are  as 
luick  as  light,  and  there  is  little  that  he  doesn't  see.     He  is  a  genuine  Yankee 
jfor  spryness,  and  we  can  well  afford  to  trust  him  to  find  out  some  things  for 

UmSelf."  v>         -,.^    ;r,- 

Although  Payzant  confessed  himself  quite  unable  to  fathom  girls  and  women, 
professed  himself  well  qualified  to  judge  men  and  boys. 

sooner  was  Jim  left  to  himself  than  he  began  to  take  in  the  lay  of  the 
His  first  move  was  to  get  out  of  the  house.     After  surveying  the  premises 

29 


b**;Ai^i^<f  . 


30 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


and  their  surroundings,  he  said:  "It's  time  for  me  to  be  tryin'  myself  on. 
These  duds  fit  me  ez  the  skin  fits  my  fingers,  an'  I  must  fit  this  ere  place  jist 
ez  they  fit  my  carkis.  But  it's  blamed  queer  that  nurther  uv  them  captains  has 
given  me  any  orders!" 

Having  been  kicked  about  from  pillar  to  post  ever  since  the  dawn  of  memory, 
his  present  liberty  embarrassed  him.  Seeing  a  hatchet  sticking  in  a  stump  close 
by  and  a  heap  of  brushwood  lying  not  far  from  it,  he  put  his  thoughts  together, 
and,  by  dint  of  vigorous  chopping,  soon  had  a  pile  of  summer  wood  prepared  for 

kitchen  use.  Having  finished  this,  he 
looked  around  for  some  new  world  to 
conquer. 

"This  is  the  most  funniest  how'd-ye- 
do  I  ever  got  my  neck  into!"  he 
exclaimed,  perplexedly.  "I  hain't  no 
good  boy  what  runs  hisself  'thout  bein' 
wound  up.  They're  jist  playin'  gam- 
mon with  me,  an'  is  peekin'  round  the 
corners  to  see  what  I'm  up  to.  No, 
Jim;  that  isn't  their  cut,  no  how!  You 
must  jist  keep  your  eyes  peeled  on 
yourself,  an'  ef  you  goes  to  gittin' 
'  mean  round  these  diggin's  you'll  de- 
sarve  to  git  spanked  with  the  tail  of  a 
live  whale.  Sneakin'  hadn't  orter  grow 
here  any  more'n  seaweed  orter  grow 
on  the  bottom  uv  a  clipper  schooner." 
Seeing  that  a  shanghai  rooster  of 
enormous  proportions  had  led  his 
numerous    flock    into    the    vegetable 


MAKING  HIMSELD  USEFUL. 


garden,  where  he  and  they  were  doing  their  best  to  destroy  a  bed  of  young 
carrots,  Jim  went  in  and  drove  them  out. 

"This  critter'll  keep  you  critters  outen  this  place  anyhow,  Mr.  Rooster;  them 
things  wasn't  planted  for  nothin',  an'  they  ainter  gonter  be  yanked  up  till  their 
time  comes."  said  he,  as  he  set  himself  to  repair  the  damage  done. 

He  had  never  seen  carrots  growing  before,  though  he  had  often  eaten  them 
in  poorhouse  soup,  and  their  green  plumes  and  red  bodies  excited  his  fancy  and 
made  him  think  of  some  English  soldiers  he  had  seen  in  Halifax  the  summer 
preceding.    Chuckling  to  himself,  he  said:    "Guess  Mr.  Father  is  raisin'  reg'ler 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


31 


[itlsh  sodjers,  but  he'll  have  to  raise  a  heap  more'n  them  afore  he  kin  lick  the 

ites." 

As  if  in  challenge  of  his  thoughts,  Shanghai  flew  upon  the  fence,  where  he 
gorously  flapped  his  wings  and  crowed  as  if  he  were  a  foghorn  warning  a  fleet 
)m  shore,  the  while  stretching  his  neck  and  opening  his  mouth  in  Jim's  direc- 
^n,  as  if  he  was  fully  minded  to  swallow  him,  new  clothes  and  all. 

Jim  had  never  heard  such  a  crow  in  all  his  life,  and  he  was  so  startled  he 
t  his  temper  and  shouted  back:  "You  derned,  long-leggid,  hollerin'  son  uv  a 
alpinl    You  Is  ernough  to  skeer  the  teeth  outen  a  cross-cut  saw.     Ef  you 


\  ";^V^^    - 


JIM  CLISABS  THE  CARROT  PATCH. 


)n't  shut  up  that  peekid  hole  o'  yourn,  I'll  chuck  a  stone  down  your  gullet  an* 
;nd  you  arter  them  old  briches  o'  mine  for  to  kiver  up  your  mizzerble,  scabby, 
iller  shanks." 

V  Ashamed  that  he  should  so  soon  forget  himself,  and  remembering  that  the 
langhal  belonged  to  the  premises,  he  said,  after  pausing  to  take  his  breath: 
lere,  Jim  Payiant,  what  kind  o'  lingo  do  you  call  that  for  a  feller  what's  got 
|uds  on  an'  has  a  new  father  an'  mother  what  prays  an'  reads  in  the  Bible? 
nothin'  but  a  critter  arter  all?  Better  belay  your  own  tackle  afore  you 
lo  belay  a  critter  what  hain't  nothin'  but  legs,  holler  an'  feathersl" 


32 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Shanghai  flapped  and  crowed  again,  but  Jim  made  himself  proof  against 
temptation  by  shutting  his  mouth  as  tight  as  a  hatchway  In  a  gale  of  wind,  and, 
turning  his  back  upon  the  rooster,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  carrot  bed  until  he 
had  repaired  all  damages  done. 

At  dinner  the  Tanner  thanked  Jim  for  taking  care  of  the  carrot  roots,  and 
Ruth  praised  him  for  cutting  up  the  brush  in  such  handy  shape.  So  far  as  he 
could  recollect,  he  had  never  been  thanked  nor  praised  for  anything  during  his 
entire  life,  and  the  sensation  was  so  novel  he  felt  as  if  he  should  outgrow  his 
clothes  before  night. 

Though  only  the  night  before  he  was,  to  use  his  own  thoughts,  "roosting  on 
the  top  of  a  tan  pile,"  he  sat  at  that  dinner  table  as  much  at  home  in  feeling  as 


JIM  EXPERIMENTS  WITH  THE  COW.  ^ 

if  he  had  lived  there  as  long  as  the  Tanner  himself.  After  dinner  Ruth  put  a 
package  of  illustrated  papers  into  his  hand.  Jim  looked  at  the  papers  for  awhile, 
but  the  outdoor  pictures  had  more  charm  for  him  than  anything  the  papers  con- 
tained, and  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  outside  revelling  in  his  freedom  again. 
When,  toward  night,  the  Tanner  went  into  his  garden  to  weed  the  ground, 
there  was  not  a  weed  to  be  seen  among  the  vegetables;  they  had  even  disap- 
^ared  from  the  comers  of  the  fences.  And  sundry  hoies,  through  which 
Shanghai  and  his  flock  had  found  convenient  entrance  into  the  garden,  were 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


33 


[ctually  closed  by  the  liberal  use  of  slabs  taken  from  a  huge  pile  of  slabs 

by. 

'Takes  to  industry  like  a  beaver,  to     vention  like  a  Yankee  and  to  thorough- 
like  a  Scotchman,"  remarKed   the  Tanner,  as  he  surveyed  Jim's  work  , 
|lcally.  and  approved    his   own   judgment    in   trusting   the  boy  to   his  own 
)urces  and  promptings.     While  he  was  sitting  on  a  rock,  over  which  the  low 
of  a  plum  tree  spread  like  an  umbrella,  his  attention  was  attracted  to  what 

taking  place  on  the  other  side  of  the  fence.  Jim  had  driven  up  Betty,  the 
r,  for  the  evening  milking,  and  Ruth  was  standing  by,  pail  in  hand.     The  boy 

anxious  to  do  the  milking  himself,  but  Ruth,  wiser  in  cow  nature  than  the 

told  him  that  Betty  was  afraid  of  strangers,  and  it  would  be  better  for  him 
lefer  his  attempt  in  that  line  until  she  had  become  somewhat  accustomed  to 
ipresence  and  ways. 

Mim  had  been  so  uniformly  successful  in  his  little  ventures  for  the  day,  and, 
lal,  he  was  so  anxious  to  please  Ruth  he  pressed  his  request  until  she  told 

he  might  see  what  he  could  do  with  Betty.     The  moment  he  began  his 
rk  the  cow  knew  there  was  something  wrong  going  on  about  the  milk-pail,  and 
lore  Jim  had  time  to  drop  he  four,  j  himself  sprawling  upon  the  ground  and  the 

clattering  clinkety-clink  down  the  sides  of  the  little  stony  hill. 

He  picked  himself  up,  and  going  aftei  the  pail  handed  it  to  Ruth,  ruefully, 
^ing:  "I  hain't  got  the  hang  o'  them  sort  o'  belayin'  pins,  an'  the  ol'  craft 
3WS  it.  But  the  next  time  I  tackles  her  I  reckon  she  won't  lay  me  on  my 
j^m  ends  like  that.  I'll  get  onter  her  starboard  quarter  so  sly-like,  she  won't 
^w  I'm  there  till  she's  milked  ez  dry  ez  a  poorhouse  preacher.'' 
:  The  Tanner  had  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  keep  from  roaring  and  disclosing 

nearness,  and  poor  Ruth  was  so  sorely  tempted  to  laugh  she  pulled  her  enor- 
^us  calico  sunbonnet  almost  to  pieces  in  trying  to  increase  the  shadows  it  cast 
)n  her  shining  face.  Some  other  people  would  have  laughed  their  fill,  but  this 
iple  made  conscience  of  not  laughing  at  the  mistakes  made  by  folks  who  were 
[ng  their  best  to  make  themselves  useful. 

When  Ruth  set  herself  to  the  work  of  milking,  Jim  watched  the  operation 
5ely,  and  when  it  was  over,  declared:     "Why,  it's  ez  easy  ez  ringing  water 
|en  a  wet  rag." 

Betty  had  a  nervous  dread  of  all  boys,  but  seeing  that  this  one  stood  by  and 

laved  himself  so  quietly  she  formed  a  good  opinion  of  him,  which  was  greatly 

[reased  when  Jim  picked  a  fine  bunch  of  clover  for  her  at  the  end  of  the  milk- 

and  allowed  her  to  eat  it  from  his  hand  without  playing  any' tricks  upon  her. 
Tan  Pile  Jim  3 


34  TAN  PILE  JIM 

The  next  time  he  tried  her  she  submitted  to  his  experiments  with  right  down 
good  win.  and  it  was  not  long  before  they  were  the  best  of  friends 

When  lim  went  to  his  room  that  night  his  room  was  packed  with  more  happi- 
ness than  he  had  known  during  his  whole  life.  Ruth's.  "This  Is  your  room,  my 
son."  filled  his  cup  with  such  delight  he  almost  forgot  to  respond  to  her  good- 

"'^^U  was  the  same  room  that  had  belonged  to  the  son  who  was  lost  at  sea.  and 
was  but  slightly  changed  from  what  it  was  when  he  occupleJ  it.     There  were 


"IT  8  EZ  FAT  EZ  A  WHALE.' 


two  windows  overlooking  the  pretty  river,  and  commanding  a  view  of  the  wooded 
hills  beyond.  The  ceiling  was  low,  the  walls  covered  with  old-fashioned  paper 
with  designs  of  small  vines  printed  in  a  vivid  red  and  blue.  Jim  had  never  seen 
a  papered  room,  and  when  he  surveyed  it  at  his  leisure  he  felt  quite  sure  that 
heaven  could  present  nothing  superior  to  it.  The  floor  had  a  bright  home-made 
rag  carpet,  with  a  brilliant  fancy  rug  for  a  center  piece,  which  Jim  would  not  con- 
sent to  place  his  feet  upon  for  many  a  day,  so  marvelous  did  It  appear  In  his  eyes. 
An  hour-glass  stand  made  from  bright  calico  and  trimmed  with  a  crimson  fringe 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


35 


on  with  big-headed  brass  brads,  which  shone  like  stars  In  the  midst  of  the 
lament,  together  with  a  low  rocking  chair  of  ancient  make  and  style,  and  two 

low  wooden  chairs  completed  the  main  furnishings  of  the  room. 

1  The  bed  was  such  a  wonder,  he  hesitated  to  disturb  it,  and  seriously  thought 

Stretching  himself  upon  the  floor  with  his  arm  for  a  pillow.     Having  had  but 

companions  during  his  life,  he  had  formed  the  habit  of  talking  to  himself 

jn  alone      Standing  by  the  bed  with  both  hands  in  his  pockets,  he  said:   "It's 

fat.ez  a  whale;     that  quilt  is  puttier'n  the  skin  of  a  fresh  mack'ril;  an'  them 
;rs  is  jist  big  ernough  for  to  go  to  sea  on."  - 

When,  at  last,  he  turned  down  the  bedding  preparatory  to  getting  In,  the  broad 
inse  of  clean  sheets  amazed  him,  and  he  exclaimed:  "I  declare  to  good- 
j!  ef  they  doesn't  look  ez  ef  they  was  peeled  smack  off'n  the  top  uv  a  fair- 

kther  cloud  what  has  come  slick  frum  glory!     Ef  I  only  know'd  how  to  do  it, 

fsay,  let  us  pray." 
When  he  blew  out  the  candle  and  got  into  bed,  he  broke  out  with,  "My 

liny,  Jerusalem  Jackson!  I  guess  God  has  dropped  a  piece  of  heaven  overboard, 

Mrs.  Mother  has  gone  an'  picked  it  up.     No  more  tan  pile  taverns  for  me!" 

It  was  some  time  before  he  could  afford  to  go  to  sleep,  and  when  he  did,  his 

ilids  were  wet  with  gratitude  and  happiness. 


A^-i'::-':  i' 


i'i 


While 


Imself  out  again,  and, 
^embers  of  his  family, 

me  through  the  small 
By  this  time  Jim 

there  isn't  that 
rowln'  for  me  to  git 


K6.pter-v- 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR  GETS  IT. 

ILOTED  by  some  imp  of  mischief,  be- 
fore sunrise  Shanghai  got  directly  under 
Jim's  windows  and  began  to  crow,  as  if 
to  make  up  for  the  time  he  had  lost  dur- 
ing the  night.     The  first  thing  Jim  knew 
he  was  sitting  up  in  bed  rubbing  his  eyes 
with  all  his  might,  and  trying  to  make 
out  where  he  was  and  what  had  hap- 
pened.    If  he  had  been  on  board  the 
schooner,  and   she    had   run  ashore  or 
been  run  into,  he   might  have  formed 
some  idea  of  what   had   occurred,  buj 
that  all-around-the-welkin  ring  of  Shang- 
hai's crow  was  enough  to  confuse  any- 
one  who  wasn't  used  to  it. 
still  debating  the  situation  with  himself,  the  rooster  let 
as  an  afterclap,  he  was  followed  by  one  of  the  younger 
whose  ridiculously  weak  imitation  sounded  as  if  it  had 
end  of  a  pinfeather. 
had  gathered  up  his  scattered  wits  enough  to  say:    "Wall, 
pesky,  nor'east  hurricane  of  a  rooster  agin!     Reckon  he's  a 
outen  this  bed.     Ef  he  hadn't  a  did  it,  I  might  a  slept  till 

87 


38 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


1  bustid.     I'm  jist  like  a  clam  what's  been  snaked  outen  the  flats.     My,  my, 
my,  what  a  snooze  I've  had!" 

And  recollecting  how  often  he  had  been  savagely  pulled  out  of  his  bunk  on 
board  of  the  schooner,  he  added:  "The  captin  isn't  here  for  to  yank  me  out 
this  time,  an'  I  jist  reckon  his  ol'  rope's  end  is  kinder  lonsome  coz  it  hain"t  no 
boy  to  lam  round  the  deck." 

The  Tanner  was  astir,  and  on  ^is  way  downstairs.  Passing  Jim's  room  and 
hearing  him  talking  at  a  great  rate,  and  remembering  how  he  had  roused  him 
the  morning  before,  he  gently  opened  the  door  and,  putting  in  his  head  with  a 

pintful  of  twinkles  in  each  eye.  he 
said:  "Here,  you!  What  are  you 
doing  there?" 

Readily  taking  the  point  of  the 
joke,  the  boy  replied:  "I  hain't 
boardin'  on  the  top  of  a  tan  pile  any 
more,  Mr.  Father.  Is  it  most 
night  agin?  Seems  ez  ef  I  never 
had  no  sleep  afore  in  all  my  born 
days,  an's  ef  I  hadn't  waked  up 
afore  sundown." 

"Oh,  you're  all  right,"  replied 
the  Tanner,  cheerily.  "I'm  just  out 
of  bed  myself.  I  heard  you  talking, 
■  and  called  in  to  see  who  you  had 
picked  up  for  company.  I  thought 
,  there  were  only  three  of  us  in  the 
house." 

"Wall,  I  reckon  the  rooster  has 

MAKING  THE  FIHB.  ^^^^  ^qJ^^,    ^iS  bCSt    tO    git     intO    that 

winder;  he's  throw'd  his  crows  in  by  the  skiff  load.  Ef  he  hadn't  a  did  it,  you 
wouldn't  a  heerd  me  talking  like  a  gander.  But  I'm  on  deck  now!"  And  with 
this  last  declaration,  he  gave  a  spring  that  landed  him  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 
"Why,  you  jump  as  if  you  were  made  up  of  crickets  and  grasshoppers,  Jim." 
"I'd  ruther  be  a  grasshopper'n  a  worm  anytime;  it's  sich  fun  to  jump  when 
you  feels  like  it  an'  when  you  orter.' '  , .      >,,  -  -, , 

"And  so  would  I.  though  the  boy  in  me  has  got  such  a  good  coating  oi 
years  on  his  back."  said  the  Tanner,  as  he  turned  to  leave  the  room.  He 
had  no  sooner  reached  the  kitchen  thar  Jim  was  at  his  heels  ready  to  beglr 


.^Mi^ 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


39 


:  of  US  in  the 


mother  day  and  to  penetrate  still  further  into  the  new  world  to  which  he  had 
)een  introduced. 

"Why,  lad;  you  must  have  jumped  into  your  clothes  as  a  frog  dives  into 
^ater!"  exclaimed  the  Tanner,  almost  thinking  that  the  boy  must  have  sent  his 
Shadow  on  ahead  of  him,  so  swift  were  his  movements. 

"I  jist  hankered  arter  them  new  duds  agin,  an'  what  you  hankers  arter  it 
lain't  no  trouble  to  git  inter." 

"That's  as  true  as  sunrise,  my  boy,  and  I  hope  you  will  never  get  into  any- 


'WHAT  A  SNBEZGHOF  A  NAME." 


thing  worse  than  new  clothes.     The  trouble  begins  when  we  get  Into  something 
/e  can't  very  well  get  out  of." 

"Now  you  is  chock-a-block,  Mr.  Father,"  responded  the  boy,  quickly,  taking 
the  point  of  the  Tanner's  moral  with  a  readiness  that  spoke  well  for  his 
teachableness. 

It  will  scarcely  be  believed,  yet  it  is  true,  nevertheless,  that,  although  the 
jTanner  had  lived  with  Ruth  so  many  years,  he  always  made  the  fire  In  the 
[morning,  unless  there  happened  to  be  a  good  reason  for  not  doing  It.     Jim 


40 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


watched  his  fire-making  with  interest,  and  the  upshot  of  it  was,  It  was  a  long 
time  before  the  Tanner  got  another  opportunity  to  Icindle  the  kitch'^n  fire. 

Shanghai  became  Jim's  timepiece,  and  as  soon  as  the  fire  was  biarted  the 
rooster  and  his  flock  received  their  miorning  allowance  of  oats  and  barley.  Jim 
said  Shanghai's  crow  was  a  good  deal  better  than  a  rope's  end,  for,  though  it 
was  rather  noisy,  there  was  no  sting  to  it. 

The  Tanner  was  as  regular  at  his  morning  devotions  as  Shanghai  and  the 
birds  were  at  theirs,  but  on  this  second  morning  of  Jim's  arrival  there  \>/as  an 
interruption.  The  third  chapter  of  Daniel,  containing  the  story  of  the  three 
Hebrew  children,  was  read.  Before  beginning  the  reading,  the  Tanner  said; 
"Jim,  we  are  in  the  habit  of  talking  about  wiiat  we  read,  and  if  we  want  to  ask 
questions  of  one  another,  we  do  it.  Now,  that  you  are  one  of  us,  you  can  do  as 
we  do,  if  you  feel  like  it.  We  believe  in  having  nice  times  when  we  read  the 
Bible,  and  we  want  you  to  share  in  them.  I'm  going  to  read  about  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, the  king,  and  the  golden  image."  And  the  Tanner  adjusted  his 
spectacles  for  the  reading. 

"What  a  sneezer  of  a  name,"  responded  Jim,  promptly.     "How  on  airth  did 
he  manage  to  ship  it?     It's  big  enough  to  sink  a  man      -war!" 

Payzant  took  his  nose  between  his  forefinger  and  thumb,  and,  rubbing  it 
downward,  nervously  asked:     "What  do  you  mean,  my  boy?" 

"Nebber-Nebber  cud— "  but  the  name  was  too  much  for  him,  and  he 
ended  by  saying:  "That  ere  feller  with  a  name  longer'n  your  leg.  I'd  jMst  call 
him  Cud,  an'  done  with  it;  for  he's  like  a  big  chaw  o'  terbaccer,  an'  I  don't 
like  cuds,  nohow  you  kin  fix  it." 

Payzant  hated  tobacco,  and  he  was  so  glad  to  find  Jim  at  one  with  him  in  his 
dislike  he  was  willing  to  accept  his  idea  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  saying:  "Yes,  he 
was  as  bad  as  tobacco,  which  I  hope  you  will  always  hate." 

The  reading  went  on  until  it  reached  the  decree  that  all  who  didn't  worship 
the  golden  image  should  be  cast  into  the  fiery  furnace.  Jim  had  never  heard 
the  story  before,  indeed,  he  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the  wealth  of  the  Old 
Testament. 

"My  goodness,  gracious!"  he  exclaimed,  loudly,  unable  to  repress  his  abhor- 

r'.^"  'J^  l!"^^  ^'^'''  ^'^  ^  ^''"  ^°''"  '"  ^^^  States  he'd  a  been  chucked  into 
the  fire  hisself  afore  he  know'd  it.  We  don't  have  no  kings  an'  sich  truck 
Kings  isn  t  no  good,  nohow!"  ... 

The  Tanner  was  a  loyal  subject,  and  made  a  practice  of  praying  for  the 
queen  m  nearly  every  prayer  he  offered,  and  he  saw  that  if  the  boy  was  to  have 


Jlk 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


41 


w  on  airth  did 


[any  respect  for  his  sovereign  he  must  help  him  to  discriminate  between  her  and 
iNebuchadnezzar. 

"All  kings  are  not  bad,  you  know,"  he  began,"and  some  queens  are  very 
[good.     Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  queen  of  Sheba?" 
"No,  sir,"  decidedly. 
"Nor  Queen  Esther?" 
"Not  a  mite!" 
"Nor  Queen  Victoria?" 

'Yis,  I've  heer'n  on  ol'  Vic;  but  she  couldn't  come  it  on  anybody  in  the 
SStates." 

"Well,"  interrupted  Ruth,  mildly,  "but  Queen  Victoria  is  the  best  queen 
^hat  ever  reigned,  and  you  must  learn  to  speak  and  think  well  of  her,  now  that 
^ou  are  in  her  dominions." 

"An'  will  she  chuck  me  into  the  fire  ef  I  don't?" 
"Oh,  no!     She  isn't  a  pagan!" 

"What's  a  pagan?     I  never  heerd  o'  none  o'  them  things  afore." 
"Nebuchadnezzar  was  a  pagan,  who  wanted  the  people  to  bow  down  to  a 
jolden  image." 

"Wall,  I'd  do  it,  ef  you'd  give  me  the  imige  for  my  own." 
"But  not  if  you  were  made  to  worship  it  instead  of  God,"  said  the  Tanner, 
[who  was  beginning  to  think  he  had  his  hands  full,  for  that  morning  at  least. 

Jim  didn't  like  to  back  water  where  kings  and  queens  were  concerned,  yet  the 
seriousness  of  the  Tanner  and  his  wife  perplexed  him,  and  he  contented  himself 
nth  a  humble,  "Wall,  1  dunno,  Mr.  Father." 

After  reciting  the  First  Commandment,  and  explaining  it,  the  Tanner  con- 
tinued his  reading. 

Jim's  flashing  eyes  and  working  face  showed  that  he  was  listening  with  all 
[his  ears.  When  the  Tanner  read:  "And  he  commanded  the  most  mighty  men 
[that  were  in  his  army  to  bind  Shadrach,  Meshach  and  Abednego,  and  to  cast 
[them  into  the  fiery  furnace,"  Jim  could  contain  himself  no  longer. 

"Avast  there!  you  dod-rotted  old  pagin  terbaccer  cud!"  he  almost  shouted. 

'Don't  give  us  any  more  of  him,  Mr.  Father!     He's  wuss'n  devil-fish, lobsteran' 

■  sculpin  all  put  together.     Ef  I  hears  any  more  erbout  him,  it'll  make  me  swear 

in  spite  o'  all  the  flap-jacks,  feather-beds  an'  new  duds  you  kin  pile  onter  me!" 

"James,  James!"  exclaimed  Ruth,  now  greatly  shocked,  and  all  the  more  so 

because  the  Tanner  was  making  heroic  efforts  to  keep  his  face  straight. 

"No,  Mrs.  Mother,  my  name  is  Jim  till  I  get  through  with  that  ol'  cuss  of  a 
Cud;  an'  a  hull  prayer  meetln'  couldn't  keep  me  frum  gittin'  riled  from  top  to 


42 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


bottom.  That'sthe  derndestol'  king  you' re  givin'  us  I  ever  heerd  on;  an'  ef  ol'  Vic 
is  like  him,  I'm  bound  to  git  outen  her  kittle  ez  fast  ez  my  legs  can  streak  it!" 
"But  look  here,  Jim,"  interposed  the  Tanner,  quietly,  and  with  that  twinkling 
of  eyes  the  boy  was  so  quick  to  discover,  and  to  appreciate  j  >  well,  "this  thing 
happened  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  years  ago;  and,  besides,  the  boys  were  not 
burned  up  after  all,  as  we  shall  soon  see  if  you  will  keep  quiet  till  I  finish  the  story." 
Jim  hung  his  head  for  a  moment,  and  then  humbly  said:  "I  reckon  I've  let 
go  the  ropes  like  a  Ian'  lubber,  an'  ef  you'll  give  me  the  rest  uv  it  I'll  ketch  on 
an'  keep  my  mouth  shet  ez  tight  ez  ef  the  captain  uv  of  the  schooner  was  a 

givin'  me  one  o'  his  most  all-firedest 
lickin's." 

Under  this  flag  of  truce  the  Tanner 
hastened  to  resume  his  reading,  yet 
not  without  a  feeling  of  profound  pity 
and  perplexity. 

When  he  reached  the  account  of  the 
boys  being  taken  out  of  the  furnace, 
and  read:  "Upon  whose  bodies  the  fire 
had  no  power,  nor  was  a  hair  singed, 
neither  were  their  coats  changed,  nor 
the  smell  of  fire  had  passed  upon  them," 
Jim  was  so  restless,  the  Tanner  said; 
"What  is  it  Jim?  speak  if  you  want  to." 
"Now  I  knows  I'm  a  fool  for  gittin' 
riled  when  that's  only  a  fo'cas'Ie  yarn 
what  you've  been  givin'  us;   fo'cas'Ie 
yarns  hain't  no  good  noways,  an'  my 
feelin's  has  jist  riz  for  nothin'." 

The  Tanner  got  up,  laid  the  big 
Bible  on  the  table,  and  went  out,  and 
kept  on  going  until  he  reached  the 
tannery,  where  he  sat  down  on  one  of  the  benches  and  laughed  loudly  enough  to 
have  been  heard  all  the  way  across  the  river.  There  was  no  family  prayer  that 
'-norning,  an  omission  which  had  not  occurred  for  many  years  in  the  history  of 
that  cottage. 

Ruth  suspected  the  cause  of  her  husband's  sudden  departure,  for  she  was 
almost  hysterical  herself.  She  was,  however,  determined  to  do  her  duty  by  the  boy. 
being  fully  convinced  that  these  sudden  flashes  were  but  proofs  of  the  gem  within. 


THB  TANNKR'fl  HEARTY  LATJOH. 


i 


'^n'v:. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


43 


"You  are  the  most  irrepressible  boy  I  ever  saw,"  was,  however,  what  she 
said,  by  way  of  taking  him  in  hand. 

"What  kind  of  press  is  that,  Mrs.  Mother?  You  don't  mean  for  to  say  that 
you  thinks  I'm  only  a  critter  arter  all,"  and  such  a  shadow  of  regret  flitted  over 
his  fine  face  she  was  almost  compelled  to  resort  to  the  corner  of  her  apron. 

"I  only  meant  to  say  that  you  are  a  very  funny  boy,"  she  replied,  gently. 

His  face  lighted  instantly,  and  he  gave  expression  to  his  relief  with,  "Oh,  is 
that  all!  I  thought  you  was  a  goin'  to  put  me  down  ez  a  reg'Ier  circus  bummer. 
But  isn't  Mr.  Father  gonter  say  his  prayers?  We  can't  git  erlong  'thout  'em; 
they  kinder  set  a  feller  on  his  pins  like,  an' 
make  him  feel  ez  ef  he  had  new  duds  on 
unner  his  skin." 

"I  think  you  upset  him,  an(^  '^e  has  gone 
[out    to    get    settled    again,'       aid    Ruth, 
I  frankly,  for  she   was    such   a  transparent 
soul  she   could  neither  withhold   nor  dis- 
guise the  truth  when  she  was  challenged 
directly. 

"Wall,  I  didn't  go  for  to  do  it;  yit  that 
fire  business  was  jist  like  the  yarns  the 
sailors  was  allers  tellin'  in  the  fo'cas'le,  an' 
it  did  seem  ez  ef  Mr.  Father  had  got  hold 
uv  some  book  what  they  lamed  their  yarns 
frum," 

"But  he  read  it  out  of  the  Bible,  Jim, 
and  it's  a  true  story,  every  word  of  it." 

"Ef  you  says  it  isn't  a  fo'cas'tle  yarn,  it 
isn't  for  sartin,  Mrs.  Mother;  but  that  oV 
Cud  orter  a  been  strung  up  to  the  mast- 
head for  the  gulls  to  eat  the  flesh  off'n  to 
the  bones,  for  puttin'  them  fellers  into  the 
fire,  for  all  they  didn't  git  scotched." 

"You  have  been  in  the  fiery  furnace  yourself,  j'im;  but  you  are  going  to  come 
out  of  it  without  being  burned  up,"  and,  with  infinite  tact,  the  old  saint  went  on 
and  gave  him  a  lesson  he  never  forgot.  Its  immediate  effects  were  shown 
when  he  exclaimed:     "I'll  never  git  scotched,  even,  ef  I  kin  help  it." 

"If  you  will  let  the  Lord  keep  you,  as  the  Fourth  One  in  the  furnace  kept  the 
boys,  you  will  come  out  all  right. 


"MY,  MT,  MY!     ISN'T  THIS  A  RUM  GO.' 


MHIMiaiMMAiiSiii 


44 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"And  now,  Jim;  you  mustn't  call  us  Mr.  Father  and  Mrs.  Mother  any  more. 
Call  us  father  and  mother,  for  that  Is  what  we  intend  to  be  to  you  in  everything, 
and  we  want  you  to  be  a  real  son  to  us." 

"Mother  and  father,"  he  gurgled,  like  a  young  bird  just  beginning  to  learn  a 
spring  song.  "I'm  the  one  that's  upsot  now,  an'  I  reckon  I'll  have  to  go  an' jine 
father.  My.  my,  my!  Isn't  this  a  rum  go  for  a  orphin  an'  a  critter  what  runn'd 
away  to  keep  frum  gittin'  licked!" 

Notwithstanding  the  roughness  of  his  words,  there  was  such  a  gentle,  refined 
look  upon  his  face  Ruth  called  him  to  her  side  and,  taking  one  of  his  hands  in 
her  own,  began  to  caress  il  in  such  a  loving  way  that  he  instinctively  leaned 
closely  against  her  as  if  to  get  the  full  benefit  of  the  heart  that  was  beating  for 
his  good. 

"Jim,"  she  said,  looking  into  his  eyes  in  the  way  he  loved  to  have  her,  "you 
are  such  a  clean  looking  boy  now,  and  have  such  a  good  soul  within  you,  in 
spite  of  your  hard  experiences,  I  want  you  to  begin  to  pick  your  words  a  little. 
Try  to  speak  as  we  do.  It  will  come  hard  at  first,  but  you  take  up  things  so 
easily  you  will  soon  succeed." 

"I'll  sink  the  ol'  lingo,  mother,  jist  ez  soon  ez  I  kin  git  the  hang  o'  your 
style,  though  I  has  to  skin  myself  to  do  it.  But  a  feller  what  has  come  straight 
outen  a  tar  buckit  '11  have  to  slap  on  lots  o'  grease  afore  he  kin  git  white  hands." 
The  task  he  set  himself  was  by  no  means  an  easy  one,  and  Ruth  was  alto- 
gether too  considerate  to  remind  him  of  his  numerous  failures.  The  Tanner 
rather  enjoyed  his  novel  expressions,  and  protested  that  if  he  were  pruned  too 
closely  he  would  be  injured  instead  of  benefitted. 


■^^': 


.feAffi 


K6.pTer-vi 


SIGNED  AND  SEALED. 

HE  TANNER  was  a  schoolmaster  in  his 
earlier  days.  People  said  he  was  the 
■  best  master  who  ever  taught  in  Liverpool; 
he  had  such  a  happy  faculty  of  gaining 
the  confidence,  inspiring  the  ambition  and 
securing  the  perseverance  of  the  boys  and 
girls,  and  making  them  push  their  way 
through  their  studies.  He  had  not  en- 
tirely forgotten  his  old  arts,  and  now  that 
he  had  a  young,  ambitious  boy  to  deal 
with,  who  so  much  needed  instruction,  he 
began  to  put  them  in  practice. 

Somehow,  Jim  came  to  look  upon  him 
as    a    big    boy,   notwithstanding    his    ad- 
vanced  years,    and    as   boys    are   apt    to 
i  imitate  big  boys,  he  began  to  copy  the  Tanner  with  all  his  might. 

And  this  was  just  what  the  Tanner  liked,  though  it  led  him  to  say  to  Ruth 
one  day:  "With  such  a  lad  as  that  around  one  needs  to  be  very  careful  of  his 
conduct  and  influence." 

He  was  in  the  habit  of  saying  to  himself:  "Be  what  you  would  have  others 
be,  and  you  shall  not  long  lack  for  company." 

Although  the  Tanner  was  such  a  good  hand  to  teach,  he  was  not  much  of  a 
hand  to  preach;  yet  when  he  did  preach  one  didn't  have  to  fetch  an  opera-glass 

to  find  the  point  of  his  sermon. 

45      '  :\):  .'■■':'■  ■  .  ;■,/■•  ;  -y. 


46  TAN  PILE  JIM 

"He's  like  a  picter  book  where  the  picters  gits  erhead  of  the  readin'  afore 
you  knows  it,"  said  Jim;  "an'  mother's  another  schooner  what's  jist  like  him; 
an'  they  is  lashed  together  ez  tight  ez  kin  be,  so  that  they  keeps  me  in  tow  ez 
easy  ez  Shanghai  keeps  his  tail  feathers  in  tow." 

If  he  had  been  asked  which  of  the  two  he  liked  the  better,  he  would  have 
answered,  that  one  might  as  well  ask  him  which  end  of  the  same  stick  of  candy 
he  liked  best. 

Ruth  cultivated  a  little  flower  garden  in  front  of  the  cottage,  and  Jim  was  not 
long  in  finding  out  that  she  took  a  deal  of  pleasure  in  it.  He  didn't  know 
much  about  flowers,  yet  he  knew  enough  to  enable  him  to  distinguish  between 
them  and  weeds.  Against  weeds  he  waged  an  incessant  warfare,  so  that  few  of 
them  survived  their  first  appearance  above  ground. 

The  hens  were  rigidly  excluded  from  the  flower  garden,  and  if  Towzer,  the 
great  Newfoundland  dog,  didn't  take  care  of  his  footsteps  and  look  carefully 
after  the  wag  of  his  enormously  bushy  tail  when  he  entered  the  sacred  enclosure, 
Jim  would  shout  in  regulation  quarterdeck  style:     "Down  you  lubber!" 

As  Towzer  didn't  like  being  called  a  lubber  by  so  important  a  personage  as 
Jim  had  become,  he  either  laid  down  with  his  nose  between  his  fore-paws,  or 
stalked  out  of  the  garden  with  his  tail  drooping  between  his  hind  legs.  But  as 
soon  as  his  young  master  made  his  appearance  outside  the  enclosure  the  tail  be 
came  as  crisp  and  as  curly,  and  as  waggy  as  ever.  Towzer  seemed  to  remem- 
ber that  since  Jim's  arrival  the  kennel  chain  had  been  seldom  used.  He  was  a 
free  dog  just  so  long  as  he  kept  close  to  the  boy  and  went  no  further  in  his  frolics 
than  Jim's  moods  permitted. 

Jim  thought  some  use  ought  to  be  made  of  the  tan  pile  which  had  introduced 
him  to  Liverpool  life.  The  red  dust  and  pungent  odor  were  not  as  offensive  to 
him  as  they  were  to  some  people,  and  he  liked  the  feel  of  the  stuff  beneath  his 
feet.  Asking  permission  of  the  Tanner  and  his  wife,  he  wheeled  the  whole  pile 
into  the  garden,  where. under  Ruth's  direction,  he  made  it  serve  as  an  admirable 
foil  to  the  crescents,  squares,  triangles  and  circles  into  which  the  garden  was 
divided. 

One  evening,  while  the  twilight  still  lingered  in  the  west.  Jim  was  walking 
among  the  paths  surveying  the  different  parts  of  the  little  kingdom.  The  Tanner 
and  Ruth  sat  on  the  doorsteps  watching  his  movements  and  commenting  upon 
his  character. 

"He  is  a  perfect  fit  to  us."  remarked  the  Tanner,  v/armly.  "A  boy  like 
that  is  not  to  be  picked  up  every  day.  He  is  as  handy  In  the  tan- 
nery as  he-  is  everywhere  else,  and  if    he  sticks  to  the  trade.  Liverpool 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


47 


leather  will  lose  none  of  Its  reputation,  and  that  is  saying  a  great  deal,  you 

know." 

Ruth's  wrinkled  face  shone  brightly  as  she  answered:  "Yes,  we  are  for- 
tunate; for,  having  neither  children  or  grandchildren,  and  not  even  a  niece  nor  a 
nephew  to  call  us  kin,  he  fills  a  great  vacancy.  But  what  if  we  should  lose 
him?     He  is  such  an  active,  restless  boy,  I  am  afraid  he  won't  stay  here  very 

long." 

"He  is  anchored  fast  enough,  never  fear.  He  has  had  too  rough  a  time  of 
it  to  be  anxious  about  getting  away  from  us  right  away,"  said  the  Tanner. 
"However,  if  it  will  be  any  satis- 
faction to  you,  I  will  take  him  down 
to  the  Squire's  to-morrow  and  adopt 
him  according  to  law,  so  as  to  make 
him  as  much  ours  as  possible." 

"1  wish  you  would,  James;  it  will 
place  him  on  a  better  footing  with 
the  villagers  and  give  us  a  better 
right  to  protect  him.  It  is  known 
that  he  is  an  American  boy,  and 
there  are  plenty  of  boys  about  here 
who  would  be  just  mean  enough  to 
persecute  him  on  that  account." 

'I  have  already  talked  with  Jim 
[about  that  part  of  it.  and  have  put  'w'C 
him  on  his  guard.  I'll  risk  him;  he 
knows  enough  to  mind  his  own  busi- 
>  ness,  and  has  grit  enough  to  compel 
others  to  mind  theirs.  He  is 
neither  quarrelsome   nor  cowardly.  "he  is  anchored  fast  enough." 

If  anybody  begins  to  fool  with  him  I  hope  he  will  give  them  a  lesson  they  will 
remember."  -  -, 

"James,  James!     What  are  you  saying?"     ,  - 

"Well,  the  lad  has  been  knocked  about  enough  already,  and  as  sure  as  my 
iname  is  Payzant,  I  shall  stick  to  him  through  thick  and  thin,  and  so  will  you, 
I  Ruth." 

"Of  course,  of  course!  Yet  I  do  not  think  we  need  to  borrow  trouble  about 
I  him.  he  is  so  willing  and  pleasant."  ^..  *"® 

"Trouble  or  not,  he  shall  be  taken  care  of."  ,  '     "   ' 


48 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  Tanner  spoke  with  a  determination  that  meant  much.  He  knew  that 
sooner  or  later  Jim  would  be  put  on  trial.  He  had  little  fear  as  to  the  result, 
even  though  he  were  left  to  his  own  resources,  but  he  resolved  that  he  should 
have  fair  play.  Payzant  was  a  great,  strapping  fellow,  a  reasonable  man  when 
treated  rightly,  and  no  less  so  when  people  attempted  to  tread  upon  his  toes,  for 
he  was  very  prompt  to  make  them  stand  on  their  own  proper  footing.  He  was 
much  respected  in  the  town,  and  when  he  hung  out  danger  signals  those  who  had 
occasion  to  observe  them,  observed  them  to  good  effect. 

He  took  Jim  down  to  the  Squire's,  as  was  proposed.  Squire  Seely  was  an 
old-fashioned,  dignified  lawyer,  who,  according  to  the  usages  established  once 
and  forever  in  the  Bristish  Empire,  bore  the  title  of  queen's  counsel.  He  wdsa 
man  of  strong  English  prejudices,  and  when  the  Tanner  made  known  his  errand. 
Instead  of  attending  to  his  own  business,  he  showed  a  disposition  to  interfere 
with  the  Tanner's. 

"Is  not  this  a  rather  hasty  move,  Mr.  Payzant;  this  adopting  a  son  and  heir 
from  the  top  of  a  tan  pile,  and  an  American  at  that?"  he  inquired,  quite 
obtrusively. 

"That  is  my  affair,"  the  Tanner  replied,  curtly, 

"But  you  have  the  reputation  of  being  possessed  of  some  means,  and  it 
doesn't  seem  just  the  thing— it  isn't  exactly  loyal  to  the  people  hereabout  to 
pick  up  a  vagrant  Yankee  child  after  this  fashion,  especially  when  you  know  so 
little  about  him,"  persisted  the  "queen's  counsel." 

Jim  was  in  the  room, and  though  the  lawyer  spoke  in  a  subdued  tone,  the  boy 
heard  every  word.  Unable  to  endure  the  quiet  contempt  with  which  he  spoke, 
and  reddening  to  the  roots  of  his  hair,  he  burst  in  upon  the  conversation  with: 
•  Mr.  Squire,  I  doesn  t  know  what  you  is  driving  at,  but  my  father  knows  what 
he's  erbout  for  sartin  sure.  Why  does  you  call  me  a  vagrunt?  I  doesn't  do 
no  gruntin',  nohow;  I  leaves  that  for  hogs  an'  squires." 

The  Squire,  entirely  taken  aback  by  this  unexpected  sally,  drew  himself  up  with 
a  frown,  peered  over  the  tops  of  his  glasses  at  the  boy,  and  then,  overcome  by  his 
sense  of  humor,  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  the  Tanner  was  not  slow  to  join. 
••  'Pon  my  word!"  he  exclaimed,  still  confining  his  address  to  the  Tanner,  but 
speaking  with  an  entire  change  of  manner  and  tone,  "he  is  a  regular  powder  keg, 
and  I  should  think  you  would  be  afraid  to  have  him  around." 

"He  is  not  apt  to  go  off  unless  there  is  occasion  for  it,"  replied  the  Tanner, 
significantly. 

nery  as  i.?:^^'    ^^"'  ^^  y°^  '"^ist  upon  it.  Mr.  Payzant,  nothing  remains  for  m^ 
"   ^  '^ut  the  necessary  papers." 

. —  I'j  Mi'.TrjfisrBTrBwwt  *' 


1.11 


I 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


49 


"I  don't  want  no  papers!"  said  Jim,  !--^pressibIy.     "Me  an'  him  is  stucic  to- 

getiier  anyhow,  an'  ol'  Vic  herself  coulo;!  t  sp.it  us  apart.     He  tells  me  to  call 

|him  father,  an'  I'd  like  to  see  the  man  what  kin  keep  me  from  doin'  uv  it." 

There  were  tears  in  the  boy's  eyes  now,  and  he  was  fairly  trembling  with  sup- 

I pressed  excitement.     The  very  thought  of  any  interference  with,  or  even  con- 

Ifirmation  of,  his  relationship  to  the  Tanner  was  a  refined  torture  to  him. 


A^iMfLM 


"I  DOESN'T  DO  NO   GBUNTIN'  NOHOW." 

"Oh,  well,"  and  the  lawyer  rose  several  degress  in  his  temperature,  or  rather 
in  his  feeling  of  respect  for  the  young  stranger,  "it  is  going  to  be  just  as  Mr.  Pay- 

Ithe  Tanner,  |  zant  wants  it  to  be,  my  lad.  You  have  evidently  fallen  in  love  with  each  other,  and 
that,  of  course,  settles  it.     Yet  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  a  few  questions  for  form's 

lains  for  m^  |  sake,  you  know,  and  if  you  will  answer  them  we  shall  soon  get  through  with  the 
business."  • 


^^■- 


50 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Then  you  kin  give  her  a  free  sheet  an'  let  her  rip,"  said  Jim,  much  molli- 
fied by  the  lawyer's  changed  manner. 

"Well,  what  is  your  name?"  asked  the  Squire,  after  filling  in  the  preliminary! 
blanks  of  a  formidable  legal  document. 

"James  Mu,"  giving  the  name  as  the  Tanner  nad  previously  instructed  him  | 
to  do. 

"Hew  do  you  spell  it?     M-e-w,  cat  faihion,  or  m-oo,  cow  fashion?"  inquired] 
the  Squire,  puzzled  by  the  name,  and  disiposed  to  relax  his  dignity  a  little. 

"M-u,"  replied  the  Tanner,  hastily,  fearing  lest  Jim  should  get  loose  again. 

"It  is  a  short  name,  easily  written,  and  makes  so  much  the  less  work  for  you." 

Seeing  that  the  Tanner  was  giving  him  a  hint  not  to  be  too  inquisitive,  the 

Squire  blandly  remarked,  as  he  wrote  the  two  letters:     "Yes,  such  a  short  name 

as  that  would  save  a  deal  of  writing  in  the  course  of  a  lifetime;  but  Payzant  added 

to  it  will  balance  it  up  nicely,  and  keep 
the  boy  from  feeling  lop-sided. 
I  understood  you  aright,  he  has  neither 
father  nor  mother—  no  next  of  kin  to 
consult." 

"None,"  replied  the  Tanner,  looking 
at  Jim  sympathetically. 

"What    is    your    age?"   addressinj 
the  lad. 

Jim'  was  sensitive  to  questions  like 
these,  and  he  hesitated  for  a  moment, 
9  the  while  perspiring  with   embarrass- 
ment. 

"Don't  you  know  your  own  age?' 
asked  the  Squire  forcibly. 

"No,  sir;  but  you  make  me  feel  lik 
sixty!" 
"Well,  you  are  the  oldest  youngst( 
ever  fell   in  with!"  answered  the  Squire,  laughing  heartily,  and    beconiir 
more  and  more  interested  in  the  boy. 

"He  is  about  twelve,  1  should  say,"  suggested  the  Tanner,  restraining  h 
shaking  sides.  •  . 

Pa  z^ntr  °  ^°''  ^'^^^^  ''°"'^"^  *°  ^^''°"'^  ^^®  """^"P*^^  ^°"  °^  ^^"^^^  ^""^  ^" 
"I  reckon!"  was  the  quick  and  emphatic  reply.   ' 


THE  BIRTH    MARK. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Si 


The  Squire  now  began  to  write  down  a  short  personal  description,  remarking 
[hat  it  might  be  of  use  in  the  future.     At  the  close  he  asked  Jim  if  he  had  any 
larks  on  his  bod^. 

"Lot's  on  'em,  I  reckon!" 

"Well,  if  you  have  no  objection  to  show  the  marks,  I  should  like  to 
bee  some  of  them," 

Removing  his  jacket  and  clean  check  shirt,  Jim  turned  a  back  to  the  Squire 
[hat  was  welted,  seamed  and  scarred  with  the  floggings  he  had  received  on  board 
[he  fishing  schooner  from  which  he  had  run  away. 

"In  heaven's  name,  where  did  you  get  those?"  asked  the  Squire  in  blank 
imazement. 

"God  bless  my  soul!"  exclaimed  the  Tanner  at  the  same  time,  trembling 
nth  indignation,  this  being  the  first  intimation  he  had  received  of  the  existence 
5f  the  marks. 

'Them's  the  Ca,  tain's  marks.     He  allers  laid  it  onto  me  when  he  got  the 
licker  in  him." 

By  dint  of  hard  questioning  they  got  a  glimpse  of  the  life  he  had  lived  on 
shipboard. 

"The  confounded  scoundrel!  Ho  ought  to  be  in  the  penitentiary!"  The 
>quire  was  waxing  wrathy.  "And  is  that  the  kind  of  stuff  the  Marblehead  skip- 
}ers  are  made  of?" 

"No.  sir!  He  was  born'd  in  Yarmouth,  an'  his  folk'ses  live  there  now.  He 
/as  hired  to  fish  the  Yankee  schooner." 

A  consultation  followed  between  the  Squire  and  the  Tanner,  the  result  of 
/hich  was  that  a  watch  should  be  kept  over  Nova  Scotian  ports,  so  that  if  the 
)rutal  Captain  could  be  seized  he  might  be  held  for  his  treatment  of  the  boy. 

"But  this  is  the  kind  of  a  mark  we  are  after,"  said  the  Squire,  noticing  for 

[he  first  time,  that  on  Jim's  right  arm  there  was  a  brown  birth  mark,  which  was 

IS  perfect  a  picture  of  a  cherry  as  was  ever  made— stem  and  all.     An  American 

;agle,  with  shield  on  breast,  was  tattooed  so  near  the  cherry  as  to  represent  him 

^ith  the  stem  in  his  beak. 

"Ton  my  word,  that's  a  specimen  of  nature  and  art  combined!"  said  the 
squire,  examining  it  with  great  interest.     ,     v    •    ' 

It  was  the  first  time  the  Tanner  had  seen  it,  and  he  asked  Jim  when  it  was 
lone.  .",:,•..'..',.,  ' 

"One  Sunday,  last  summer,  when  we  was  lyin'  unner  the  lee  uv  the  Magda- 
jen  Islan's  up  north." 

"What  possessed  you  to  have  it  done  in  that  shape?"  asked  the  Squire. 


!-S';»};;,-«-"«SCt; 


> .  mm»i^mmm'j>. 


52 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


t^ 


"Why,  ol'  Schrinch,  ez  we  called  him,  seed  the  cherry,  an'  he  said  ez  how 
he'd  like  to  tlgger  her  up;  an'  I  let  him  figger  all  he  wantld,  though  it  made  me 
scrinch  all  over  when  he  was  a  doin'  uv  it.  He  said  the  Yar^ees  was  boun'  to 
git  ervay  with  everything,  an'  seein'  how  the  cherry  made  a  fust  rate  world,  he 
made  a  eagle  to  match." 

"And  marked  you  for  a  Yankee  for  all  time,"  said  the  lawyer. 
"I  reckon!" 

"You  never  can  make  a  Bluenose  nor  a  British  subject  of  that  boy  Payzant." 

"Reckon  not!"  replied  Jim  promptly; 
"leastwise,  not  ef  I  knows  it." 

"it  doesn't  matter  whether  he  is  Ameri- 
can or  English  so  long  as  he  makes  a 
man  of  himself."  remarked  the  Tanner, 
smilingly. 

"But  you're  the  one's  what's  making  a 
man  uv  me,  and  I'll  never  go  back  on 
you,  not  even  if  I  gets  to  be  President!" 
and  Jim  looked  at  the  Tanner  with  eyes 
full  of  admiration  and  trust. 

"That  eagle  will  carry  him  over  the 
line  before  he  gets  his  wisdom  teeth," 
persisted  the  Squire,  reflectively. 

While  Jim  was  putting  on  his  shirt  and 
jacket  the  lawyer  wrote  down  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  birth  mark  in  the  body  of  the 
adoption   papers.     The   document    com- 
pleted, he  read  it  aloud,  and  it  was  so  fu'.l 
of  legal  terms  and  repetitions  Jim  felt  al- 
most as  badly  as  if  he  were  being  tried  for  some  crime  before  a  full-blown  court. 
The  Squire's  wife  and  oldest  daughter  did  not  mend  matters,  for,  on  being 
called  in  to  attest  the  signatures,  they  asked  him  so  many  questions  on  their  own 
account,  he  perspired  as  if  he  were  In  dangerous  proximity  to  "Old  Cud's" 
furnace. 

The  broad  tape  and  great,  round  seal  of  wax  were  at  last  affixed  to  the  paper, 
and  Jim  was  Informed  that  he  was  now  James  Payzant,  Jr.,  according  to  all  the 
forms  of  law.  But  for  the  ladies  he  would  have  turned  a  somersault.  As  it 
was.  In  view  of  the  size  of  the  document,  he  asked  the  Tanner:  "Shall  I  go  for 
♦he  wneelbarrer  to  git  It  home?" 


"8HALX.  I  GO  FOR  THE  WHEEL-BARHKRV' 


.  i^jH^i^'iAg- 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


53 


"I  think  I  can  shoulder  it,"  replied  the  Tanner,  falling  in  with  his  humor,  and 
glad  that  the  business  was  over. 

"Hurrah,  mother!  I'm  rigged  out  with  tops'ls  an'  moon  scrapers  frum  stem 
to  starn!"  cried  Jim,  as  he  burst  into  the  cottage  with  his  legal  papers. 

Ruth  took  her  hands  from  the  dough  she  was  kneading,  and,  after  washing 
them  carefully,  she  sat  down  and  read  the  paper  through  and  through  with  as 
much  interest  as  if  she  were  going  through  the  births,  marriages  and  deaths  of 
the  village  paper. 


f:v 


I'. 


■■f  ■•• 


-  \( 


■  ^.-  ■.:!■■■ 


K6.ptcrw-  : 

A  HANDY  FISH  MARKET. 

HE  big  document  gave  Jim  an  incr-^ased 
sense  of   his   importance   and   re. 
ability. 

"Your  name's  on  paper  now,"  said  he 
to  himself,  "an'  them  ribbons  an'  that 
almighty  big  hunk  o'  wax  is  to  keep  you 
frum  gittin'  mean  an'  low.  Lay  yourself 
unner  the  guns  uv  that  affidavy,  an'  ol' 
Cud  won't  never  make  no  kindlin'  wood 
uv  you  for  his  fiery  furniss." 

The  Tanner  showed  him  where  the 
paper  was  put,  and  told  him  he  was  at 
liberty  to  look  at  it  whenever  he  pleased. 
For  several  mornings  the  first  thing  Jim 
did,  after  starting  the  fire,  was  to  take  a 
peep  at  the  big  "dokkymunt"  to  assure 
himself  that  it  was  there  in  all  its  glory. 
He  never  touched  it,  however,  unless  his 
h.  ds  were  clean  and  his  hair  combed. 
One  morning  he  dreamed  that  the  round  seal  had  turned  into  a  great,  red, 
jolly  face,  and  that  the  paper  had  grown  Into  a  pair  of  fat  legs  and  the  two  flaps 
of  ribbon  Into  long,  red  arms.  And  there  it  stood  beside  his  bed.  saying:  "I'm 
cold  and  lonesome,  and  I'm  going  to  get  into  that  nice  featherbed  with  you  and 
warm  myself.    The  bed  is  big  enough  for  us  both,  anyway." 


fiB 


56 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


» 


Jim  was  so  startled  at  the  idea  of  having  such  a  queer  bedfel'.  /  he  woke  up 
earlier  than  usual,  and,  hastily  dressing  himself,  went  quietly  downstairs  and 
peeked  into  the  bureau  to  see  if  the  paper  was  in  its  place.  It  was  there,  looking 
as  solid  and  as  grave  as  ever. 

"Hain't  nothln'  agin  its  havin'  a  face  ef  it  wants  to,"  he  observed,  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction,  "but  ef  it  goes  to  gittin'  legs  an'  all  the  rest  uv  the  fixin's, 
it  might  talce  a  notion  to  git  lost  where  1  couldn't  find  it  agin." 

After  kindling  the  fire  and  putting  the  tea  kettle  on,  he  went  up  to  the 
tannery.     It  was  a  foggy  morning,  and  the  river,  swollen  b}   rains  which  had 

fallen  during  the  night,  was  making 
music  along  the  shore  and  over  the 
rocky  shoals.  He  went  around  the 
tannery  corner  and  looked  upon  the 
rippling  waters.  While  thus  en- 
gaged he  saw  the  glint  of  the  bright 
scales  of  a  fish  which,  in  its  pranks, 
had  jumped  high  out  of  the  water. 
"There's  fish  there,  an'  a  dip  net 
in  the  tannery  an'  a  feller  here,  an' 
it's  time  they  held  a  meetin'  erbout 
gittin'  sunthin'  for  breakfast  an'  din- 
ner. Ef  there's  a  fish  markit  unner 
that  stream  it's  time  I'd  run  onto 
it."  Accordingly,  he  armed  himself 
with  a  long-handled  bow  net,  with 
which  he  cautiously  made  his  way 
over  the  slippery  stones  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  pool  from  which  the  fish 
had  jumped.  '•:;'■        "  '    ' 

"Tain't  like  droppin'  a  codline  into  salt  water  an'  waitin'  for  a  whopper-of-a- 
snipper  to  come  along  an'  almost  snake  you  overboard,"  he  remarked,  as  he  felt 
his  way.  "Hows'mever,  there  must  be  fun  in  the  style  ef  you  kin  only  git  the 
fish  hanked  into  your  net.  Wouldn't  I  like  to  git  a  hold  uv  sunthin' "what 'd 
make  mother  open  them  eyes  o'  hern  an'  say  'well,  well!'  four  times  runnin'?" 
On  reaching  the  edge  of  the  pool  he  paused  to  study  how  he  might  best  use 
the  net,  he  never  having  used  a  bow  net  before.  He  was  not  long  in  deciding 
what  he  ought  to  do.  Taking  a  frim  grip  of  the  handle  he  threw  the  bow  well 
over  the  pool,  where  he  dropped  it  softly  Into  the  water,  edge  down,  and  then 


FISHING  WITH  A  BOW  NET. 


iU  .^2^1^^U.^u,t^  1 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


57 


gave  a  swift,  strong  sweep  down  stream.  At  the  same  instant  tlie  pole  of  tlie 
net  began  to  quiver  like  a  bundle  of  life.  Rapidly  drawing  the  net  toward  him 
and  lifting  it  from  the  stream,  he  saw  that  it  was  one-third  full  of  a  flopping, 
wriggling  tangle  of  fish.  How  was  he  ever  to  get  them  ashore?  Being  much 
excited  and  not  sufficently  cautious,  he  stepped  upon  a  slippery  stone  and  fell  his 
full  length  into  the  stream.  But  the  water  being  shallow  where  he  fell,  he  so 
managed  his  net  as  to  retain  his  catch  until  he  could  regain  his  feet. 

"You  didn't  git  erway  frum  me  that  time,  ef  I  be  green  at  this  sort  o'  thing," 
he  exclaimed.  "A  feller  what  has  hooked  cod  outen  the  Grand  Banks  ain't  a 
goin'  to  be  fooled  on  sich  a  tea  kittle  stream  ez  this." 

The  next  moment  he  stood  safely  upon  the  bank,  wet  as  a  dish-rag,  yet  proud 
as  a  peacock,  when,  on  reversing  his  net,  he  counted  eleven  fish  of  four 
different  kinds. 

Eager  for  another  haul,  he  again  moved  toward  the  pool,  where,  after  vainly 
dipping  for  awhile,  he  said:  "To  be  sure!  What  ninnies  they'd  be  to  stay  here 
for  the  fun  of  bein'  cotched,  when  I've  gin  'em  a  warnin'  by  scoopin'  sich  a  big 
hole  in  their  famerly  party  an'  splashin'  in  the  water  like  a  millwheel  in  the 
bargin!  There's  ernuther  hole  jist  like  it  over  yonder,  an'  like  ernough  what's 
left  uv  them  is  a  holdin'  a  mournin'  party  over  there." 

While  he  spoke,  as  if  to  emphasize  his  words,  a  big  fish  leaped  high  in  air 
from  the  center  of  the  pool  and  fell  with  a  splash,  which  made  Jim  exclaim: 
"Gewhitticur,  Jerusalem!  Ef  that  isn't  the  granddaddy  uv  them  all!  Ef  I  gits 
him,  an'  he's  good  for  to  eat,  mother' 11  lift  up  both  hands  an'  father' 11  twinkle  ez 
ef  he'd  stuffed  his  eyes  full  o'  stars." 

Carefully  securing  a  position  that  would  give  him  full  command  of  the  pool, 
he  gave  a  short,  sharp  dip,  but  only  to  be  convinced  that  his  net  had  struck  a 
sunken  rock  for  his  pains,  so  suddenly  was  it  brought  up  all  standing.  He  was 
soon  undeceived  as  to  the  nature  of  the  obstruction,  for  the  net  was  nearly 
jerked  out  of  his  hands  by  something  struggling  within  it.  ' 

"I'll  be  kicked  ef  I  hain't  struck  a  mermaid  this  time!"  and  he  tightened  his 
grip  and  braced  his  feet  for  the  work  of  lifting  the  bow  from  the  water. 

"Bear  a  hand  there,  Jim!  Roll  your  net  over  and  over  and  double  it  on 
itself,  and  grab  the  bow  in  your  arms  and  cut  for  the  shore,  or  he'll  break 
through  and  get  away!"  It  was  the  Tanner  himself,  shouting  his  imperative 
directions  from  the  shore  at  the  top  of  his  voice.  Missing  the  boy,  he  had 
started  in  search  of  him,  and  had  come  upon  him  In  the  act  of  lifting  the  fish 
from  the  pool.  ':  '.    '      ^ 

Jim  obeyed  directions  without  comment,  but,  though  the  prize  was  !n  the  net 


3snfi3si?\ 


^: 


t- 


f: 


i;- 


r 


58 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


and  the  net  in  his  arms,  he  was  by  no  means  sure  of  victory.  His  nose  was 
getting  such  a  pounding  from  the  tail  of  the  fish  the  blood  started  in  streams. 
Nevertheless,  he  reached  the  shore  in  safety  and  landed  his  catch  in  triumph. 
The  Tanner  gave  a  loud  hurrah  as  he  took  the  net  from  Jim's  hand  and,  by  a 
practiced  turn,  emptied  the  fish  upon  the  green  sward  of  the  upper  bank. 

"What  in  the  name  o'  big  pertaters  is  it!"  exclaimed  the  boy,  panting  from 
the  effects  of  his  labors  and  looking  at  the  giant  with  feelings  bordering  on  awe. 


LANDING    A   TWENTY-POUNDER. 


"It's  a  salmon!     Belongs  to  the  order  of  nobility;  doesn't  weigh  less  than 
twenty  pounds.     But  he  has  peeled  your  nose  from  top  to  bottom!" 

"I  don't  keer  for  no  nose,  ef  the  feller  is  only  good  to  eat!" 

"Bless  my  soul,  Jim!     Didn't  you  ever  taste  of  a  salmon?' 
^-^'  "Not  unless  it  was  fore  I  was  born." 

"Well,  you'll  have  a  chance  now,  for  that  fellow  will   keep  us  going  for 
several  meals  to  come." 

"An'  will  she  like  it?" 

"Who?     Ruth?    Why,  she  dotes  on  salmon,  and  she  knows  how  to  cook 
them,  too      But  come  here  and  let  me  stop  your  nose  bleed.    There,  now;  hold 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


59 


eigh  less  than 


>  us  going  for 


up  your  right  hand  as  high  as  you  can  lift  it,  and  keep  it  there  till  the  bleeding 
stops."  Jim  thought  it  was  a  queer  way  to  stop  his  nose  from  being  red;  but  he 
soon  discovered  that  it  was  effectual. 

"But  what  made  your  clothes  so  wet?"  asked  the  Tanner,  for  the  first  time 
noticing  Jim's  drenched  condition. 

"Water,  1  reckon.  There's  more  fish  on  the  bank  below,  an'  while  I  was 
gittin'  uv  them,  they  up  an'  pulled  me  into  the  river." 

"Into  the  river!  Look  here,  my  lad,  don't  you  go  to  trifling  with  the  river; 
too  much  water  is  dangerous."  And  the  Tanner  was  speaking  soberly 
enough  now.  "  ,         .-:> 

"I've  seen  oceans  ?n'  oceans  uv  it,  an'  it'll  take  more'n  a  little  patch  o' 
water  to  floor  me." 

"Can  you  swim?" 

"I  reckon  I  kin,  sir.  I  feel  fishy  every,  time  I  see  water.  I  wants  to  git  into 
it  so  much." 

"Well,  a  boy  who  is  not  afraid  of  water  generally  has  the  advantage  of  it," 
said  the  Tanner,  who  wasn't  a, man  to  encourage  timidity  where  intelligent 
courage  backed  up  by  experience  would  answer  a  good  deal  better.  s 

Jim  took  the  net,  now  that  his  nose  had  stopped  bleeding,  and  the  Tanner 
lifted  the  salmon,  and  the  two  made  their  way  down  stream  to  where  the  other 
catch  was. 

"You  have  made  a  splendid  morning's  work  of  it,  Jim!"  exclaimed  the 
Tanner,  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  fish.  "Why,  you  must  be  a  born  fisherman, 
though  this  fog  and  last  night's  rain  have  favored  you." 

"Ef  I  was  born  for  anything  I'm  glad  uv  it,"  was  the  glad  reply,  for  kindly 
praise  always  made  Jim  glisten  like  a  dew  drop  kissed  by  the  morning  sun. 
"But  wtiat  kind  o'  craft  does  you  call  them  fellers?  When  it  comes  to  whales, 
porpusses,  dogfish,  codfish  an'  sich  critters  I'm  on  deck,  but  when  I  strikes  sich 
little  dandies  ez  them  I'm  keeled  over  intirely." 

Separating  five  of  the  smallest  fish,  which  were  about  seven  inches  long, 
round  as  a  corn  stalk  and  bright  as  silver  dollars,  the  Tanner  said:  "These  are 
smelt,  and  very  delicate  eating  they  are,  too,  when  properly  cooked." 

"Then  it's  no  matter  ef  they  is  little,"  and  the  boy  took  one  of  them  in  his 
hands  that  he  might  inspect  it  more  closely.  Now,  when  smelt  are  fresh  from 
the  water  they  smell  curiously  like  fresh  cucumbers,  and,  taking  a  strong  sniff  at 
the  fish,  he  said:  "Why,  it  smells  ez  ef  it  had  spent  the  night  in  our  cowcumber 
patch.     Is  that  why  they're  called  smelt?" 

"Like  enough,"  replied  the  Tanner,  "for  the  smell  of  the  company  we  keep 


4^'^ 


■■^lr^<- 


60 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


is  apt  to  stick  to  us,"  and  he  gave  Jim  such  a  wink  with  one  of  his  sharp,  gray 
eyes,  that  the  boy  knew  he  was  trj'ing  to  poke  the  small  end  of  a  sermon  over 
his  way.  ^.    .,'^>'' 

"Look  here,  my  boy,"  added  the  Tanner,  very  suddenly,  "can  you  say 
cucumber?' ' 

"Cucumber,"  responded  Jim  promptly,  seeing  that  he  was  in  for  one  of  the 
Tanner's  corrections, 

"Correct  as  a  book.  You  are  a  great  hand  for  driving  the  cows  from  places 
where  they  have  no  right  to  be,  and  I'm  sure  you'll  keep  the  cow  from  the 
cucumber  patch  from  this  time  on." 

"Cucumber,"  said  Jim  again,  imitating  the  Tanner  so  precisely,  that  he 
laughed  in  spite  of  himself. 

"But  you  hain't  told  me  what  these  is,"  and  Jim  lifted  up  two  of  the  catch 
with  which  he  was  especially  delighted,  adding,  "They  looks  ez  ef  they  had  their 
Sunday  clothes  on,  or  had  been  a  gittin'  themselves  up  for  a  dancin'  party." 

"Those  are  blue-blood  aristocrats  also;  salmon  trout — cousins  to  the  big 
fellow,  you  know.  They  are  young  yet;  don't  weigh  more  than  a  pound  and  a 
half  apiece.  But  out  of  that  same  pool  I  have  caught  -some  weighing  as  high 
as  six  pounds." 

"And  is  they  good  to  eat  too?     Looks  is  deceivin',  you  know." 

"We'll  have  them  for  breakfast,  and  then  you  can  decide  for  yourself.  It  is 
my  opinion  that  there  won't  be  much  of  them  left  by  the  time  we  get  through 
with  them." 

"An'  them  yaller  fellers  over  there  what  looks  ez  ef  they  had  been  rubbin' 
their  sides  agin  a  fire-pot;  they  hain't  no  good,  I  know,  coz  they  looks  ez  coarse 
ez  a  buU-punkin'  an'  ez  homely  ez  a  barn  door." 

"Those  are  perch.  We  don't  make  much  account  of  them  where  there 
are  so  many  better  fish;  yet  they  are  not  to  be  despised  when  you  can't  get  any- 
thing else."  ,  •■• 

"And  these " 

"Are  some  kino'  he.  in',"  said  Jim  quickly,  taking  the  words  from  the 
Tanner,  who  was  about  to  tell  what  the  remainder  of  the  fish  were.  "They 
doesn't  look  like  reg'ler  sea- going  craft  tho',  coz  they  have  a  sorter  chunk-a- 
bumbo  look  erbout  their  keels  what  makes  'em  look  like  Ian'  lubbers  what's 
erf  raid  o'  salt  water." 

"Yes,  they  belong  to  the  herring  family,  but  we  call  them  kyacks  or 
alewives." 

"That's  the  fust  time  I  ever  heerd  o'  fish  beln'  called  wives.     How  did  they 


B'issi^t, 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


61 


get  marri'd?  Was  they  marri'd  by  one  o'  them  Baptist  preachers  what  dipped 
the  folks  in  the  river  last  Sunday?" 

The  Tanner  was  a  Wesleyan  Methodist,  but  being  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
the  Baptist  clergyman  of  the  place  he  chucklingly  resolved  to  give  him  the  benefit 
of  Jim's  utterance  the  first  time  he  saw  him,  although,  on  general  principles,  he 
disapproved  of  jesting  on  religious  subjects.  Before  the  smile  had  faded  from 
his  face,  Jim  repeated  the  word  alewives  two  or  three  times,  for  the  more  he 
thought  of  it,  the  more  it  puzzled  him, 

"It's  a  reg'ler  double-end  curiosity!"  he  finally  exclaimed;  "for  there's  your 
ale  an'  there's  your  wives.  What's  ale  an'  wives  got  to  do  with  fish,  anyway? 
I  reckon  you  is  jist  trying  to  warm  me  up  with  one  of  your  jokes." 

"No,  I  am  not  joking,  Jim;  but  you  remind  me  that  it  is  a  queer  mix  up.  I 
can  give  no  clear  account  of  the  origin  of  the  name,  though  I  can  give  a  guess  at 
it.  Women  who  keep  ale  houses  in  England  are  called  alewives.  River  herring 
are  salted  and  smoked,  and  thus  prepared  they  used  to  keep  them  on  the  ale 
counters  or  bars  for  the  free  use  of  customers  who  frequent  such  kind  of  places; 
and  as  they  made  people  thirsty  they  thus  increased  the  sale  of  the  ale,  and  so. 
came  to  be  called  alewives,  too." 

"Orter  been  called  hellwives!"  was  the  emphatic  answer.  "My  captain  was 
allers  drinkin'  beer,  an'  when  he  had  the  most  beer  in  him  he  had  the  most  devil 
in  him,  an'  I  got  licked  the  wust.  I'm  gonter  chuck  them  herrin'  into  the  river 
again.  We  don't  want  no  hellwives  erbout  us;  leastwise,  I  don't  want  no  more 
lickin's." 

Thinking  of  Jim's  scarred  back,  and  seeing  how  quickly  and  sorely  he  referred 
to  the  treatment  he  had  received  under  his  drunken  captain,  the  Tanner 
responded:  "Never  fear,  Jim;  if  anybody  undertakes  to  lick  you  while  you  are 
with  me,  he'll  get  licked  himself.  But  suppose  we  take  the  herring  home  and 
give  them  to  the  hogs." 

"We  kin  do  that,  an'  I  wish  we  could  do  the  same  thing  with  all  the  beer  an' 
licker  in  the  world;  it's  only  fit  for  hogs,  anyway." 

"I  wish  we  could;  no  good  ever  came  from  intoxicating  drinks.  But,  look 
here,  if  you  don't  hurry  home  the  cold  water  in  your  clothes  won't  be  the  best 
thing  in  the  world  for  you." 

"Wall,  I  do  begin  to  feel  goose-fleshy  all  over,  that's  a  fact;  an'  some  warm 
clothes  wouldn't  feel  bad.  Many  a  time  when  I've  got  wet  I've  had  to  jist  stan' 
in  my  clothes  till  they  dried  upon  my  back,  an'  now  I've  got  duds  ernough  to  rig 
out  Queen  Victoria." 

Ruth  was  wondering  what  had  become  of  her  husband  and  the  boy,  when  the 


m 


62 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


i 


ly 


& 


Si- 


door  opened  and  Jim,  holding  up  the  salmon  to  view, said:     "Here,  mother,  I've 
been  an'  gone  an'  got  a  reg'ler  bouncer  for  dinner." 

"Well,  well,  well,  well!  Did  you  catch  that  yourself?"  cried  she.  holding 
her  hands  up  as  high  as  she  could  get  them, 

"Believe  I  did;  but  ef  there'd  been  two  on  'em,  I'd  a  been  out  to  sea  by  this 
time,  an'  like  ernough  they'd  a  been  kalkllatin'  how  I'd  taste  best,  biled,  baked 
or  fried." 

"But  bless  me — your  nose  and  your  clothes!  What  have  you  been  doing?" 
and  Ruth  pulled  her  spectacles  down  from  her  hair  until  they  enabled  her  to 

survey  Jim's  damages  to  their  full  ex- 
tent. 

"Why,  you  don't  expect  a  feller  to  go 
to  mr>rkit  for  fish  an'  not  pay  anythin'  for 
'em?  I  got  'em  cheap  ernough  anyway." 
She  would  not  rest  satisfied  until  she 
had  learned  the  truth,  and  when  she 
found  that  he  had  fallen  into  the  river, 
her  fears  were  aroused,  and  she  lec- 
tured him  quite  roundly. 

While  he  was  changing  his  clothes 
the  Tanner  scaled  the  trout  and  smelt, 
and  it  was  not  many  minutes  before 
they  were  sizzling  in  the  frying  pan  at  a 
great  rate,  Ruth  having  put  in  butter 
enough  to  set  them  swimming  again. 
She  didn't  believe  in  cooking  such  deli- 
cate fry  in  pork  fat. 

"My  goodness,   how  you   has    scud 
them  fellers  up,"  said  Jim,  when  he  came  down  and  saw  the  fish  in  the  pan. 
"Fresh  from  the  water,  fit  for  the  platter,"  replied  Ruth,  quoting  a  local 
proverb. 

"Yesterday's  fish,  not  fit  for  the  dish,"  added  the  Tanner,  quoting  another, 
and  snuffing  the  odor  with  a  keen  relish. 

"  'Cepting  when  they  is  turned  into  salt  junk,  an'  you  has  an  appetite  like  a 
shark,"  suggested  Jim,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  Tanner  and  his  wife. 

While  they  were  eating  breakfast,  the  Tanner  asked  Jim  if  he  had  ever  fished 
with  flies.  He  had  never  heard  of  such  a  thing,  and  became  much  interested  in 
the  description  of  the  process,  ^qr  the  Tanner  was  an  enthusiastic  angler. 


"BUT  BLESS  MK." 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


63 


"I  have  a  salmon  rod,"  said  he,  "and  a  beauty  It  Is,  too.  with  four  joints  and 
a  click  reel,  silk  line,  flies  and  all  the  rest  of  the  outfit,  and  hereafter  you  shall 
have  it  for  your  own." 

"A  reg'ler  rod  with  store  clothes  on!"  the  boy  exclaimed,  resting  the  butt 
end  of  his  knife  upon  the  table  and  leaning  back  in  his  chair  and  looking  at  the 
Tanner  as  if  he  had  a  halo  of  glory  around  his  head. 

"Yes,  it  is  a  dandy,  and,  although  I  have  caught  many  a  salmon  with  it,  it  is 


RESULT  OF  RECOLLECTIONS. 


as  good  as  new  from  tip  to  butt.  I'll  teach  you  how  to  use  it.  I'm  sure  you 
will  make  one  of  the  best  fly  fishers  on  the  river." 

j'im's  fingers  were  already  tingling  for  the  touch  of  the  rod.  How  to  express 
his  gratitude  he  knew  not,  but  he  finally  said:  "Ef  I  could  only  say  one  of  your 
long  prayers,  I'd  save  you  the  trouble  of  sayin'  it  this  blessed  mornin'.but  seein' 
ez  how  I  can't,  I'll  have  to  let  you  stick  it  through  yourself." 

Not  being  prepared  for  this  kind  of  thanksgiving,  the  Tanner  swallowed  his 
coffee  the  wrong  way,  and  made  such  a  fuss  between  his  laughing  and  coughing 
that  Jim,  seriously  alarmed,  repeated  the  advice  he  had  given  once  before:    ''Ef 


64 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


you'll  jist  shut  your  mouth  ez  tight  ez  a  clam  an'  sock  in  through  your  nose  like 
a  hurricane  you'll  send  the  choke  to  Jerusalem  as  slick  ez  a  slushed  mast." 

This  only  made  matters  worse,  and  Ruth's  fat  sides  moved  up  and  down  like 
the  waves  of  the  sea.  It  was  some  time  before  the  trio  settled  to  their  plates 
again. 

There  was  something  in  the  taste  of  the  trout  which  stirred  Jim's  memory, 
so  that  he  presently  began  to  wipe  his  eyes  with  the  cuff  of  his  sleeve.  Thinking 
that  his  feelings  had  been  touched  by  the  excess  of  their  merriment,  Ruth, 
looking  tenderly  at  him,  asked:     "What  is  the  matter,  Jim?" 

Absently  the  boy  looked  into  space  with  that  far-off,  plaintive  look  of  his, 
and  replied:  "This  is  the  kind  of  breakfast  you  gave  me  that  morning  you  took 
me  frum  the  tan  pile  an'  let  me  come  here.  This  is  the  very  kind  o'  fish  I 
had  then!" 

The  recollection  was  too  overpowering  for  his  quick  sensibiliti'";,  and,  pushing 
back  his  chair,  he  left  the  room.  Running  upstairs,  two  steps  at  a  time,  he  fled 
into  his  room,  where,  throwing  himself  upon  his  bed  face  down,  he  became  con- 
vulsed with  sobs,  notwithstanding  his  heroic  attempts  to  control  himself. 

Payzant  and  his  wife  finished  the  meal  in  silence,  and,  as  the  Tanner  knew 
that  if  he  undertook  to  say  prayers  that  morning  he  should  have  a  watery  time 
of  it,  he  marched  out  of  the  house  as  stiffly  as  if  the  rheumatism  had  kinked 
every  joint  in  his  body.  Ruth  watched  him  until  he  disappeared,  the  while  using 
the  corner  of  her  apron  to  staunch  the  tears  that  were  streaming  from  her 
own  eyes. 


y 


PUTTING  HIS  FOOT  DOWN. 

RESENTLY  Jim's  head  came  up  from 
the  pillow  as  suddenly  as  it  had  gone 
down.  Leaping  to  the  floor,  he  ex- 
claimed: "This  is  a  pretty  time  o'  day 
to  be  a  wobblin'  erbout  in  bed  an'  a 
snuff lin'  ez  ef  you'd  been  soused  in  the 
sea.  Ef  you  doesn't  stop  this,  Jim, 
you'll  be  an  everlastin'  softy.  Your 
foot  has  got  to  go  down  on  this  sort  o' 
thing.  What's  the  use  o'  cryin'  every 
time  you  thinks  on  the  tan  pile  an' 
what's  come  to  you?  it'll  be  time 
i-rnough  to  whimper  when  you  gits  too 
bad  to  stay  here,  an'  I  guess  there'll  be 
a  wrastlin'  time  uv  it  'fore  that  day 
comes." 

When  the  Tanner  reached  the  tan- 
nery he  was  surprised  to  find  Jim  hard 
at  work  scraping  the  hair  from  a  hide,  and  looking  as  solid  as  If  he  had  just  been 
chipped  out  of  a  granite  ledge.  Not  knowing  what  else  to  do  under  the  circum- 
stances he  began  to  v/histle,  and  this  was  such  an  unusual  thing  for  him,  Jim 
began  to  laugh,  seeing  which,  the  puckers  around  the  Tanner's  lips  disappeared 
to  make  room  for  the  broad  smile  that  spread  over  his  face, 
TanPlleJlm5  f| 


^(y^^n^^fpiip 


66 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


I: 


"What  a  pair  of  boys  we  are,  to  be  sure!"  he  exclaimed,  glancing  at  Jim  and 
winking  as  if  a  dozen  suns  were  shining  directly  into  his  eyes. 

"Ef  you  only  had  a  young  skin  on  an'  short  legs,  I'd  have  a  little  brother  all 
to  myself,  an'  we'd  have  a  high  ol'  time  when  we  piled  into  that  bed  upstairs  at 
night,"  responded  Jim.  Then  thinking  that  perhaps  he  had  gone  too  far,  he 
added:  "But  I  reckon  two  young  Jims'd  be  most  too  much  for  mother,  an'  ef 
1  didn't  have  a  hull  father  to  ballast  me  1  might  capsize  bottom  up  entirely." 

"Well,  we'll  call  it  a  partnersnip,  Jim,  You  shall  furnish  the  young-head 
capital  and  I'll  furnish  the  old-head  capital,  and  so,  between  us,  that  part  of  the 
world  which  lies  inside  of  our  fences  shan't  suffer  for  want  of  the  right  kind  of 
business.  We  can  be  young  only  once,  my  boy;  but  while  we  are  young  we  can 
so  live  as  to  carry  the  best  part  of  our  youth  into  our  old  age.  Possibly  you  may 
get  to  feeling  too  old  because  you  are  so  much  in  my  company,  yet,  on  the  other 
hand,  I  may  get  to  feeling  too  frisky  from  being  so  much  with  you.  It  is  a  poor 
rule  that  doesn't  work  both  ways,  you  know.  I've  seen  old  sheep  cut  up  some 
queer  shines  when  the  lambs  rollicked  in  the  sunshine." 

"Wall,  so  long  ez  th  ^^e's  lots  an'  lots  o'  shines  In  your  eyes,  it  don  t  make 
no  diff'runce  ef  they  doesn't  get  ez  low  down  ez  your  legs.  What's  in  them 
boots  o'  yours  is  wuth  more'n  all  the  sheep  an'  lambs  I  ever  seed  or  heern  on." 

Shortly  afterward  Jim  had  occasion  to  go  out  into  the  tannery  yard,  where, 
from  sheer  excess  of  happiness,  he  turned  somersault  after  somersault  among 
the  soft,  red  tan  piles.  In  the  very  middle  of  one  of  his  double  somersaults  the 
Tanner  caught  sight  of  him  through  an  opening  in  the  tannery  wall. 

"Bless  my  soul!"  he  exclaimed,  softly,  "if  all  the  Yankee  boys  are  liKe  him, 
I  don"t  wonder  at  their  having  such  lively  times  over  there  in  the  United  States; 
it's  enough  to  make  any  nation  light  headed."  .  ;  , 

"I  reckon  these  tan  piles  hain't  a  gonter  open  my  sluices  any  more,"  said 
Jim,  pausing  in  his  gambols  and  looking  over  the  red  piles  with  the  eye  of  a 
general  who  had  won  a  great  victory.  To  settle  the  business,  once  for  all,  how- 
ever, he  again  began  to  revolve  like  a  wheel  from  the  top  of  the  highest  pile, 
The  first  round  gave  him  so  much  pleasure,  he  tried  it  again.  When  he  stopped 
at  the  bottom  he  found  himself  sitting  on  the  ground  with  his  leathern  apron 
covering  his  head.  Throwing  the  apron  back  from  his  face,  he  saw  more  than 
he  had  bargained  for. 

There,  in  the  public  road,  not  more  than  twenty  feet  from  where  he  sat, 
stood  two  bright  girls  who  were  on  their  way  to  school.  One  was  Malvlna  Free- 
man, aged  twelve,  and  the  other  Sylvia  Seely,  the  Squire's  youngest  daughter, 
aged  thirteen.     They  had  just  turned  the  corner  of  the  winding  road,  and  had 


•.lt'V.---f-w 

"■"WPP 


TAN  PILE  JIM    . 


67 


come  through  a  clump  of  fir  trees,  and  seeing  a  tangle  of  arms,  legs  and  leather 
apron  flying  down  the  sides  of  one  of  the  tan  piles,  they  naturally  stopped  to  see 
what  sort  of  a  circus  the  Tanner  had  started  in  his  tanyard. 

When  the  head  came  from  under  the  apron  and  saw  that  four  wondering 
eyes  were  bent  upon  it,  it  gathered  its  legs  out  of  the  tan  dust  and  made  a  bee- 
line  for  the  tannery,  while  the  girls  went  on  their  way  chattering  like  a  pair  of 
magpies. 

Having  witnessed  the  whole  affair  the  Tanner's  face  was  cris-cringled  in 
every  direction  when  Jim  returned  to  his  scraping  bench. 


HAr  STOPPED  TO  SKE  THE  CIRCUS. 


"What  made  you  run  so?"  asked  the  Tanner.  - 

Seeing  that  the  cat  was  out  of  the  bag,  Jim's  face  turned  quite  red,  but  as 
le  was  never  afraid  to  answer  any  question  the  Tanner  asked,  he  replied:  "There 
vas  two  on  'em  an'  only  one  o'  me,  an'  I'm  an  awful  coward  when  It  comes  to 
2als." 

"But  those  were  very  nice  girls!" 


68 


FAN  PILE  JIM 


"Sweet  as  vi'lets;  an'  that's  jist  the  reason  I  legged  it  so.     One  doesn't  like 
to  be  seen  cuttln'  up  when  there's  nice  girls  to  see  him." 
"Girls  cut  up  themselves  sometimes." 

"Really,  now!"  incredously,  for  Jim  had  had  a  small  chance  in  the  course  of 
his  life  to  learn  much  about  girls. 

"Yes,  really;  and  why  not?     You  would'nt  have  them  looking  like  Sunday 
school  scholars  all  the  time,  would  you?" 

"No;  that  would  be  the  awfullest  thing  what  could  ever  be!' 
"Not  quite  so  bad  as  that  Jim;  yet  there  is  no  reason  why  girls  shouldn't  be 

merry,  as  well  as  boys,  once  in  a  while. 
Vina  and  Vi  are  just  the  kind  of  girls  I 
like;  they  know  how  to  laugh  without 
turning  themselves  into  gigglets." 

"What's  a  gigglet?     Never  heard 
o'  them  critters  erfore." 

"A  gigglet  is  a  girl  that  laughs  atj 
nothing  and  takes  most  of  her  time  to  ] 
do  it  in." 

"I'd  ruther  be  a  girl  giglet  than  I 
a  boy  crylet  any  time,  an'  ef  you'll  for- 
give me  I'll  never  break  up  no  morel 
mornin'  prayer  meetin's  by  cryin' 
erfore  the  cryin'  place  gits  erlong,i 
I've  sot  my  foot  down  on  that  for  good. 
A  boy  what  runs  to  cry  every  time  hisj 
heart  begins  to  kick  is  wuss'n  a  jell 
fish  what  hain't  got  no  bones  nuri 
nothin'  but  wiggles." 

Seeing  that  Jim  reverted  to  hisj 
morning  .struggles  with  such  keenj 
mortification,  and  admiring  the  pluck  underlying  his  comments,  the  Tanner,  inl 
order  to  lessen  his  shame  without  decreasing  his  resolution,  diverted  his  atten-j 
tion  to  other  subjects. 

The  conversation  presently  subsided  into  the  silence  of  work,  for  fifty  hide 
had  just  been  taken  from  the  vats  for  scraping  and  dressing.     But  though  jii 
was  both  busy  and  silent  he  couldn't  help  thinking  about  VI  Seely's  eyes,  an(^ 
the  look  he  got  from  them.     As  compared  with  this  Vina  Freeman's  glance 
didn't  seem  worth  remembering. 


HANDS  THEM  OVER  TO  VI. 


mmmM 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


6f' 


And  there  was  a  reason  for  the  diffsrence.  The  day  the  adoption  papers 
were  made  out,  Vi  heard  her  father  and  mother  talking  about  the  boy  and  the 
marks  he  had  on  his  back,  and,  although  they  were  Inclined  to  question  the 
Tanner's  wisdom  in  adopting  the  boy,  her  sympathies  were  strongly  with  him. 
And  when  she  saw  him  through  the  fence,  notwithstanding  the  absurdity  of  the 
appearance  he  made,  her  sympathy  showed  itself  in  her  glance,  and  he  was  quick 
enough  to  see  it  in  spite  of  his  confusion  of  face. 

Not  long  after  the  tan  pile  somersaults  and  leather  apron  revelations,  Jim  did 
a  bold  thing  for  one  who  was  so  much  afraid  of  girls.  It  was  just  between  the 
glow  of  sunset  and  the  gathering  gray  of  the  twilight.  Vi  was  gathering  wild 
roses  in  the  fence  corners  of  the  Squire's  field,  which  adjoined  the  lower 
boundary  of  the  Tanner's  lot.     Seeing  her  occupation,  Jim  gathered  a  cluster  of 


^^ 


A  YOUTHFUL  POET. 


beautiful  red  and  white  roses  from  Ruth's  bushes,  and,  going  down  to  the  division 
fence,  he  handed  them  over  to  Vi,  who  accepted  them  in  the  prettiest  manner 
imaginable.  And  what  is  more  surprising,  they  stood  and  talked  together  for 
some  little  time,  and  might  have  talked  longer  had  not  the  sharp,  shrill  voice  of 
Vi's  mother  been  heard  peremptorily  calling  her  back  to  the  house. 

It  was  enough  for  Jim  that  his  roses  had  been  accepted  and  that  he  had 
stood  face  to  face  with  the  girl  of  whom  Ruth  had  so  often  spoken  in  such  terms 
of  motherly  admiration.  Her  clear  brownish  eyes,  round,  dimpled  cheeks,  dark 
wavy  hair,  pretty  pouting  lips,  shining  teeth  and  softly  modulated  voice  made 
such  an  Impression  upon  him,  he  went  back  to  the  cottage  feeling  several  inches 
taller  than  when  he  left  it. 

When  he  went  to  his  room  that  night  a  piece  of  brown  paper  lay  on  his 
table,  and  as  he  had  the  stump  of  a  lead  pencil  in  his  pocket  and  several  queer 


70 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


feelings  in  his  heart  and  thoughts  in  his  head,  he  sat  down  and  began  to  scrawl 
upon  the  paper.     And  if  the  reader  will  believe  it,  this  is  what  he  wrote: 

Ef  Vi  was  my  sister  an'  I  had  lots  o'  munny, 
I'd  bild  taur  a  pallis  an' feed  hur  on  bunny; 
^  An'  give  hur  a  wagun  all  made  uv  gold, 

An'  tan  hur  sum  shoes  what  ud  never  grow  old. 
The  Tanner  an'  Ruth  shud  set  hy  her  side 
Whenever  she  wanted  to  go  for  a  ride; 
For  uv  all  the  sweet  gals  what  I  ever  seed. 
This  sweet,  SlhTir  Seele  jlst  takes  the  lede. 
Id  driv  hur  myself,  dresed  up  lilte  a  dandy. 
An'  at  every  shop  ud  by  hur  sum  candy. 
Hur  poklts  with  raisins  an' dimons  I'd  fll 
An'  never  driv  whar  thar  was  eny  ruff  hil. 

Jim  went  to  bed  and  slept  so  soundly  after  writing  this  stupendous  production 
that  he  forgot  all  about  the  paper  in  the  morning  and  left  it  upon  the  table. 
When  Ruth  went  to  clear  up  his  room  she  found  it  and  read  it,  and  so  overcome 
with  the  evidence  of  Jim's  genius  that  she  sat  down  in  a  chair  and  well-welled 
for  several  seconds.  Unable  to  keep  her  secret  she  transferred  the  paper  to  the 
Tanner,  who,  after  reading  it,  folded  it  and  pocketed  it,  saying:  "How  in  the 
world  did  the  lad  make  up  such  a  jingle  as  that?  Why,  Ruth,  it's  enough  to 
frighten  one.  What  if  he  should  turn  out  to  be  a  regular  Sir  Walter  Scott  or  a 
Longfellow?" 

"The  Lord's  will  be  done!"  said  Ruth,  piously,  but  rather  indefinitely. 

The  response  touched  the  Tanner's  funny  spot,  and  he  laughed  so  loudly, 
Ruth  forgot  her  solemnity  and  became  as  merry  as  he.      '    ,     /  ': 

During  the  day  while  Jim  and  the  Tanner  were  at  work  in  the  tannery,  and 
while  they  were  joking  with  each  other,  as  they  frequently  did,  the  Tanner  said: 
"Jim,  which  do  you  like  best,  girls  or  poetry?" 

The  boy  was  so  taken  aback  by  the  question,  and,  withal,  so  mixed  up  be- 
tween the  Tanner's  manner  and  words,  he  was  as  dumb  as  the  wooden  horse 
over  which  he  was  working. 

"I  like  girls  that  know  something  about  poetry,"  continued  the  Tanner, 
seeing  that  the  boy  was  so  silent;  "but  perhaps  you  like  poetry  that  says  some- 
thing about  girls;  such  as  this,  for  instance:  'Ef  Vi  was  my  sister  an'  I  had  lots 
of  money.'  " 

"I  jist  know'd  you  was  fishin'  for  gudgeons!"  exclaimed  Jim,  interrupting  the 
quotation  and  turning  very  red  in  the  face,  "an'  you  has  hooked  me  for  this  time, 
dead  sure." 

One  of  the  beautiful  characteristics  of  the  intercourse  of  these  two  Jims  was 
the  perfect  freedom  and  confidence  existing  between  them.     The  Tanner  had 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


71 


no  thought  of  shocking  the  boy  or  playing  rudely  with  any  of  his  private  affairs; 
nor  did  the  boy  think  there  was  anything  to  be  ashamed  of  in  the  simple  fact  of 
his  Indulging  In  a  "writin'  fit,"  as  he  afterwards  called  it. 

"Wall,  I  do  wish  Vi  was  my  sister,"  was  the  frank  and  Ingenious  admission 
made  without  any  hesitation,  whatever. 

"And  I  don't  blame  you  my  boy,"  was  the  quick  reply. 

"But  I  want  to  say  to  you,  Jim,  I  didn't  find  the  paper.  You  mustn't  think 
that  I  have  been  prowling  around  your  room.  An  Englishman's  house  Is  his 
castle,  and  your  room  must  be  considered  your  castle.  Ruth  found  the  paper 
while  clearing  up,  and  she  thought  It  so  good  she  brought  it  to  me.  I  thought  it 
good,  too,  and  so  I  put  it  In  my  pocket  that  I  might  find  an  opportunity  to  say  to 
you  that  If  you  never  write  anything  worse  than  that  you  will  do  very  well, 
indeed.  And,  as  for  Vi,  you  can't  write  anything  too  good  about  her.  And 
now,  here  Is  the  paper,  which  I  give  back  into  your  keeping." 

The  Instant  Jim  got  the  paper  into  his  hands  he  tore  it  into  pieces,  which  he 
flung  Into  one  of  the  vats,  saying:  "I  orter  git  in  there  an'  git  a  tannin'  for 
myself.' ' 

"But  I  have  committed  the  words  to  memory,  Jim,  and  I  shall  remember 
them  as  long  as  I  live." 

"Now  you  Is  making  fun  uv  me,  for  certln!"  '  - 

"Bless  you,  boy!  I  wouldn't  make  fun  of  you  for  the  world."  And  the 
Tanner  spoke  so  earnestly,  Jim  found  he  required  all  his  resolution  to  keep  his 
foot  down. 

"You  have  written  rhymes  before,  Jim." 

"Does  you  mean  jingled  words?" 

"Yes,  you  may  call  it  that  If  you  wish." 

"When  I  was  at  the  poor  farm  an'  had  nothin*  else  to  do,  I  uster  git  unner 
the  trees  an'  sorter  try  It  on." 

"But  who  taught  you  in  the  first  place?" 

"Nobuddy  never  killed  hisself  learnin'  me  anything.  I  jist  let  myself  rip 
whenever  I  felt  like  it,  an'  that  was  all  there  was  of  It." 

"Do  you  remember  any  of  the  words  you  wrote  at  that  time." 

"I  remember  one  thing  I  couldn't  forgit  nohow,  coz  I  felt  so  down  in  the 
mouth  when  I  writ  it." 

"What  was  It,  Jim?" 

"Does  you  want  to  git  my  foot  up  «gin?" 

"No,  no!     I  want  to  help  you  keep  it  down  like  a  man." 

Thus  encouraged.  Jlnr     *ted  his  head,  and,  looking  the  Tanner  str^  .1 


72 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


the  face,  slowly  recited  the  following  words,  of  which  he  afterward  furnished  the. 
Tanner  a  copy  in  this  form: 

Oh,  what  am  I  here  for?    I'd  like  to  know; 
An'  whar  did  I  cum /rum,  and'  how  did  I  grow? 
An'  why  hain't  I  got  no  father  an'  mother? 
An'  no  little  sister,  an'  likewise  no  brother? 

Last  Sunday  a  preacher  told  us  uv  God, 
""     An' said  sunthin' *bout  a  blossomln' rod; 

Ef  God  km^w'd  his  bizness  he'd  take  me  erway, 
An'  not  let  me  stay  here  another  long  day. 

The  boss  he  is  cross,  an'  ef  God  Is  like  him, 
Whafs  gonter  become  uv  this  mlzzlble  Jim? 
An'  that  woman  what  feeds  us  as  ef  we  was  pigs, 
Blows  us  all  the  time  an'  isn't  wuth  Jlggs. 

-  I  looks  like  a  skeer-crow  what's  made  outen  rags, 

-    ..."  An'  old  hats  an'  shoes  an"  castaway  bags: 

I  feel  like  a  feller  what's  fell  In  the  dirt. 
An'  wiggles  eroun'  becoz  he  is  hurt. 

Ef  ever  I  gits  frum  this  horrerble  place, 
.'y  '  *  I'll  cut  like  a  boss  what's  runnin' a  race 

,  An'  keep  on  a  goln'  till  I  fetches  up  ^ 

Whar  they  won't  kick  me  roun'  like  a  mangy  pup. 

During  the  recitation  of  the  lines  the  Tanner's  face  worked  like  a  pond  of 
water  in  a  gale  of  wind,  notwithstanding  his  resolution  to  keep  his  foot  down  upon 
his  own  feelings.  Nor  did  Jim  help  matters,  when,  having  finished  the  lines,  he 
said:  "I've  fetched  up  at  last,  father!  There's  no  more  poor  farm  for  me,  an' 
you  musn't  go  to  feelin'  bad,  for  now  I'm  like  a  bird  what  has  a  nest  all  to 
itself." 

"God  bless  your  soul,  Jim!"  exclaimed  the  Tanner,  hysterically.  "But  the 
rod  is  blossoming  at  last,  and  if  it  doesn't  bring  you  something  of  beauty,  sweet- 
ness and  fruitfulness  it  sha'n't  be  our  fault.  And  now  1  want  you  to  promise  me 
one  thing." 

"I'll  promise  you  a  hunnerd,  ef  it  takes  a  year  to  keep  'em,"  said  the  lad, 
quickly,  watching  the  Tanner's  face  with  eager  eyes. 

"Whenever  you  feel  like  writing  you  must  drop  everything  and  write  away 
for  dear  life.  You  need  not  think  that  you  must  always  show  it  to  me,  yet,  if 
you  should  wish  to  do  it,  so  much  the  better.  I'll  get  you  a  blank  book,  and, 
besides,  that  copy  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  you  have  been  reading  so  much  lately  you 
shall  have  for  your  own." 

"To  take  up  to  my  room  for  my  own,  an'  dig  into  it  ez  much  sz  I  please?" 

"Yes,  and  as  many  other  books  as  you  want.  But  there's  Ruth  calling  us 
to  dinner.     Won't  you  recite  the  verses  to  her  sometime?" 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


73 


I  pond  of 

)wn  upon 

lines,  he 

me.  an' 

St  all  to 

'But  the 

J,  sweet- 

mise  me 

"Ef  she  wants  me  to,  I  will,  though  I'd  ruther  keep  'em  stowed  down  in  the 
hold.  When  God's  tuk  keer  on  you,  you  doesn't  have  to  keep  rakin'  up  his 
disrememberin's,  you  know." 

The  Tanner  felt  in  duty  bound  to  correct  Jim's  idea  of  the  forgetfulness  of 
God,  but  when  he  tried  to  shape  his  thoughts  to  meet  the  case,  he  gave  it  up, 
and  concluded  that  he  would  trust  to  time  and  Ruth  to  correct  any  mistakes  the 
boy  might  be  laboring  under.  He  didn't  believe  in  driving  spikes  into  shingles, 
or  cramming  with  meat  before  the 
teeth  had  come. 

When  the  two  came  out  of  the  tan- 
nery door  the  Tanner  challenged  Jim  to 
a  race   for   dinner.     The  banter  was 
promptly  accepted,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing his  years,  the  Tanner,  thanks  to  a^^ 
pair  of  long  legs,  reached  the  cottage  a 
hundred  feet  in  advance  of  Jim;  but 
when  he  appeared  before  Ruth  he  was'^.'vV 
so  blown  he  had  to  sit  down  to  give  hisA  f\ 
breath  a  chance  to  overtake  him. 

Jim   entered  just   in   time  to  hearl,^* 
Ruth  say:     "What  will  the  church  say^^ 
to    such    goings    on?     It's    perfectly- 
scandalous!" 

Before  the  Tanner  could  get  his 
breath  for  reply,  Jim  said:  "Ef  the 
church  doesn't  believe  in  legs,  it  orter  be  chucked  inter  the  river  an'  sprout  fins 
like  the  fishes.  Ef  your  legs  wanter  go.  you  must  give  'em  a  show,  an*  run  ef 
you  kin,  like  the  dickens." 

"Poetry,  Jim!  It's  leaking  out  of  you  like  molasses  from  a  hogshead!" 
gasped  the  Tanner. 

"Must  be  hogshead  po' try.  then!" 

Ruth  pushed  her  spectacles  up  into  her  hair  so  that  she  could  get  a  chance 
to  look  at  the  two  boys  with  her  naked  eyes,  but  as  she  only  got  laughed  at  for 
her  pains  she  turned  and  brought  on  the  dinner. 


RACING  HOMB  FOB  DINNER. 


.y^Wlpv' 


I.    (• 


•-.J-:jii, 


■VcP... 


^Awii'iWitr-,:-' 


MX 


A  FEATHERED  FISH. 

FTER  dinner  the  Tanner  took  Ruth 
aside  and  told  her  about  Jim's  poorhouse 
poem,  which  so  excited  her  sympathy 
and  curiosity,  she  called  to  the  boy  as  he 
was  about  to  leave  the  house,  and  begged 
of  him  to  repeat  it  to  her. 

After  assuring  himself  that  the  Tanner 
had  left  the  house,  Jim  said:  "I  promised 
him  I  would  ef  you  axed  me, but  I  didn't 
think  he'd  tell  you  about  it  so  soon. 
You'll  only  laugh  to  split,  coz  it  hain't  no 
hymn  like  what  you  sings  in  church." 

He  recited  the  words,  but  Ruth,  in- 
stead of  laughing,  so  deluged  the  corner 
of  her  apron  it  looked  as  If  It  had  been  a 
fishing  in  a  pail  of  water.  Indeed,  she 
was  so  wrought  up  over  lt„  that  she 
abruptly  left  him  and  took  refuge  In  her 
bedroom. 

^*-     ^  "  Jim  started  for  the  tannery,  saying  to 

himself:  "What  a  pump-handle  I  am,  to  be  surel  Next  thing  I  knows,  her 
apron' 1!  be  glvin'  me  Hail  Columby  for  gittin'  It  wet.  I'll  never  say  them  things 
agin  for  nobuddy;  leastwise,  not  onless  he  an'  she  fishes  'em  outen  me  in  spite 
o'  deep  water.     Reckon  she's  gone  to  her  bedroom  to  git  her  foot  down.     Hope 

75  .      .    .  -. 


-y^^W^ 


76 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


she'll  soon  git  sunthin'  to  laugh  at  what'll  set  her  up  agin  like  a  robin  in  a  cherry 
tree." 

Ruth  did  get  her  laugh,  but  it  came  in  a  strange  way.  When  Jim  reached 
the  tannery  he  found  the  Tanner  standing  in  the  door  examining  the  salmon  rod. 

"Now,"  said  he,  "we'll  go  down  the  river  and  take  our  nooning  out  in  learn- 
ing how  to  shake  this  stick  over  the  river.  Of  course,  there  are  no  fish  foolish 
enough  to  bite  in  the  full  eye  of  the  day,  but  I'll  teach  you  how  to  use  a  fly,  and 
then,  if  the  weather  should  be  cloudy  in  the  morning,  you  can  try  the  rod  for 
yourself.  The  salmon  have  not  yet  entirely  stopped  running,  and  if  you  are  as 
handy  with  the  rod  as  you  are  with  the  net,  you  may  have  some  sport  before  you 
tackle  the  hides  for  the  day's  work." 

While  on  the  way  down  to  the  stream,  Jim  carried  the  rod,  which  was  quite 
an  expensive  one,  made  of  split  bamboo,  and  almost  as  strong  and  as  springy  as 
the  finest  of  steel. 

"It's  a  Yankee  rod,"  said  the  Tanner,  "which  was  given  to  me  by  an  Ameri- 
can who  came  here  to  fish  five  years  ago.  Above  Milton  he  struck  a  big  salmon, 
but  while  he  was  playing  him  up  stream  he  slipped  from  a  rock  and  fell  int6  the 
rapids.  I  was  with  him  and  managed  to  fish  him  out.  I  thought  he  would 
never  come  to  life  again.  He  did,  however,  and  next  day  made  up  for  his  mis- 
hap by  killing  several  salmon.  When  he  went  away  he  insisted  upon  rraking 
me  a  present  of  the  rod  and  a  book  of  flies — flies  enough  to  last  for  a  lifetime." 

"Good  for  him!"  exclaimed  Jim,  gratefully;  "he  was  a  clipper-cut  Yankee, 
an'  seeln'  ez  how  the  rod  is  cut  outen  the  same  block,  I'll  take  clipper  keer  on 
it.  Is  this  the  wheel  what  you  steers  her  by?"  And  Jim  caressed  the  hand- 
some click-reel  attached  to  the  rod  as  if  it  were  a  thing  of  life. 

"Not  exactly,"  replied  the  Tanner,  smiling,  "but  it  is  the  reel  by  which  you 
steer  the  fish  to  the  shore  when  once  you  have  got  hold  of  him." 

They  had  now  reached  the  bank  of  the  stream,  and  the  Tanner,  putting  on  a 
large,  gorgeous  salmon  fly  made  of  red  and  brown  feathers,  brightened  with  a 
slight  dash  of  white  and  gold,  drew  the  lines  through  the  loops  with  such  a  quick 
movement  the  reel  began  t'  sing  as  if  in  anticipation  of  sport.  After  throwing 
the  fly  far  out  into  the  stream  several  times  with  the  skill  and  precision  of  an  old 
and  practiced  angler,  he  placed  the  rod  in  Jim's  hands  and  stood  by  to  watch  his 
experiments. 

"It's  touch  and  go,"  said  he,  "you  no  sooner  let  it  touch  the  water  than  you 
up  with  it  again,  as  if  it  were  a  swallow  just  taking  a  dip  for  the  fun  of  it." 

Jim's  response  showed  that  he  was  an  apt  scholar:  "  'Taln't  like  chuckin'a 
hunk  o'  clam  or  a  herrin'  into  the  sea  with  a  splash  like  an  ancher,  an'  lettin' 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


77 


her  sink  till  you  gits  tired  o'  playin'  out  cable."  He  was  thinking  of  his  cod- 
fishing  experience  on  the  Grand  Banks  and  among  the  Magdalen  Islands. 

"No,  the  splashing  will  come  when  your  game  jumps  for  the  fly  and  finds 
that  he  has  caught  a  sore  mouth  for  his  pains,"  said  the  Tanner,  grimly,  and 
somewhat  dubiously,  for  he  never  could  quite  rid  himself  of  the  thought  of  the 
suffering  that  was  experienced  at  the  other  end  of  the  line  while  pleasure  reeled 
in  at  the  butt.  "When  he  begins  to  splash  and  makes  a  run  you  will  have  to  let 
him  go,  and  when  he  takes  a  notion  to  jump,  or  to  make  a  turn  toward  you, 
you'll  have  to  stir  your  stumps  to  prevent  your  line  from  getting  slack.  'Slack 
your  fish,  lose  your  wish,'  is  a  fisherman's  proverb,  you  know." 

Jim  repeated  the  proverb,  and  added:  "Reckon  I  kin  remember  that  ez 
easy  ez  I  kin  eat." 

"A  taut  line  is  one-half  the  battle  in  life  as  well  as  in  fishing,  Jim;  it  is 
slackness  that  does  the  mischief." 

They  spent  nearly  an  hour  in  experimenting  with  different  lengths  of  line, 
and  it  was  with  keen  satisfaction  the  Tanner  noticed  how  quickly  Jim  took  his 
hints,  and  how  deftly  he  handled  both  rod  and  line.  The  Tanner  was  a  greai 
sportsman,  and  naturally  desirous  that  the  lad  should  cultivate  a  love  for  every- 
thing that  would  serve  as  a  healthy  diversion. 

Having  taught  Jim  how  to  reel  his  line,  remove  his  fly,  disjoint  hia  rod  and 
sack  it,  the  Tanner  led  the  way  to  the  tannery,  where  they  worked  with  a  will  all 
the  rest  of  the  afternoon.  When  Jim  went  to  bed  that  night  he  carried  the  rod 
to  his  room  with  him,  and  he  fell  asleep  full  of  gratitude  and  great  expectations. 
Indeed,  he  was  as  full  as  a  Christmas  stocking. 

He  slept  so  soundly  he  could  scarcely  believe  his  senses  when  he  heard 
Shanghai's  morning  call  and  saw  that  it  was  broad  daylight.  Taking  the  rod,  he 
hastily  descended  to  the  kitchen,  where  he  paused  long  enough  to  set  things 
going  for  Ruth's  appearance,  and  then  went  out  to  "size  up  the  weather," 

The  sky  was  overcast  with  heavy  clouds,  the  skirts  of  which  dragged  over 
the  hills  in  ragged  tatters.  The  brisk  wind  blew  thin  veils  of  vapors  over  the 
stream,  and  everything  wore  that  somber  gray  which  the  fastidious  angler  so 
delights  to  see.  Jim  could  not,  thus  early  in  his  novitiate,  take  in  all  the  fine 
points  of  fishing  weather,  yet  he  remembered  enough  of  the  Tanner's  descrip- 
tion to  recognize  the  favorable  conditions  of  the  morning.  He  was  so  eager  to 
make  his  first  attempt  at  whipping  the  stream  he  forgot  to  give  Shanghai  and 
his  flock  their  accustomed  supply.  When  he  went  up  the  stream  he  failed  to 
notice  that  the  plumed  patriarch  and  all  his  tribe  were  following  closely  and  spdiy 
at  his  heels.  -.  -   .  . 


78 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Not  far  above  the  tannery  there  was  a  deep  swirling  eddy,  on  the  surface  of 
which  the  foam  was  going  round  and  round  in  large  flossy,  yellowish  white  masses. 
The  Tanner  had  pointed  out  the  pool  the  previous  day  as  a  favorite  lurking  place 
for  big  fish,  and  had  also  told  Jim  that  when  the  foam  was  most  abundant  upon 
the  surface  the  chances  for  a  successful  throw  were  greatly  increased.  Further, 
he  had  taken  many  large  salrron  from  that  very  pool. 

"Hope  I  may  git  a  whopper  uv  a  bite  what'U  make  me  fee!  ez  ef  I  was  struck 
by  a  baby  streak  o'  lightnin','"  said  Jim,  as  he  completed  his  preparations  and 


0f 


•'8HAN0"  POUNdRD  UPON  IT. 

Stood  on  the  bank  ready  to  make  his  first  throw  among  the  foam  flakes.  Study- 
ing his  position  for  a  moment,  and  trembling  ^Ith  an  eagerness  which  made  his 
movements  a  little  uncertain,  he  let  the  fly  loose  from  between  his  thumb  and 
forefinger,  and  Int '  antly  grasping  the  butt  of  the  rod  with  b~th  hands  he  gave  a  move- 
ment to  the  tip  which  carried  the  line  on  a  backward  swing  with  graceful  pre- 
cision. But.  being  more  anxious  for  what  was  before  him  than  careful  of  what 
was  behind,  his  tly  caught  In  a  burdock  on  the  high  bank  at  the  very  Instant 
Shanghai  was  looking  among  Its  leaves  for  something  to  eat.  The  moment  the 
artificial  fly  Liided  on  the  leaf  the  rooster  pounced  upon  It  with  all  his  might,  anc\ 


"■^a^^^i^»«!Wiji? 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


79 


Immediately  became  hooked  through  the  upper  part  of  his  bill.  When  Jim 
looked  behind  him  to  see  —^ait  had  befallen  his  fly  he  beheld  Shanghai  with  wide 
out-stretched  wings  and  thrumming  drumsticks  making  in  the  direction  o'  the 
cottage  with  all  his  speed,  and  his  alarmed  flock  following  hard  after.  Mean- 
while, the  rod  was  bending  like  a  rainbow,  the  line  running  like  lightning,  and  the 
reel  singing  like  a  mocking  bird. 

Undertaking  to  thumb  his  line  to  check  the  play,  Jim  felt  that  baby  lightning 
had  strucK  him  sure  enough,  for  the  line  cut  his  thumb  almost  to  the  bone. 

"Avast  there,  you  mizzible  lan'lubber!"  he  shouted,  oblivious  of  the  squawk- 
ing rooster's  torment,  and  fearing 
only  for  the  safety  of  his  clipper 
rod  and  fishing  tackle. 

"Whoa!  you  doggoned  old 
goose!"  he  continued,  as  the 
rooster  speed  on  his  headlong 
way.  closely  escorted  by  his  now 
wildly  cackling  harem. 

"You  consarned,  rat-headed 
sculpin!"  and  Jim  was  getting  red 
hot  in  both  his  temper  and  his 
expletives,  for  when  he  undertook 
to  seize  the  handle  of  his  reel  In 
order  to  check  the  motions  of  the 
rooster,  he  received  a  knock  which 
almost  paralyzed  his  fingers. 

Away  went  Shanghai  and  his 
flock,  and  away  went  Jim,  clam- 
bering up  the  bank  after  them, 
and  all  three  parties  making 
more  and  stranger  noises  than  had  been  heard  in  that  neighborhood  for  many 
a  day. 

"Blest  ef  this  hain't  ther  how'd-yer-doest  flshln'  what  I  ever  heerd  on!" 
exclaimed  Jim,  pantlngly.  while  doing  his  utmost  to  keep  up  with  his  fleeing 
victim.  F'.esently  Shanghai  began  to  slacken  his  speed  and  to  zig-zag  In  his 
course,  and.  as  there  was  now  a  great  danger  of  tangling  his  line  or  snapping  it 
in  twain.  Jim  began  to  reel  in,  saying  by  way  of  applying  th«  Tanner's  proverb: 
"Slack  your  rooster,  an'  you'  e  a  gone  gooster." 

Feeling  the  additional  ^.tlng  of  the  check,  Shanghai  started  off  with  a  fresh 


FRATHKUKI)  PIHH. 


.Jtm- 


^4        ...  ^  «^iI„ ''AJ  i    ji.. 


80 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


bound  which  made  Jim  begin  to  think  that  the  rod  had  changed  ends  aiid  that 
he  was  the  one  who  was  caught. 

"Blamed  ef  the  hull  thing  hasn't  gone  wrong  end  foremost  an'  cotched  a 
reg'ler  sucker." 

Ruth  was  in  the  kitchen  seething  the  oatmeal  porridge  for  breakfast.  Hap- 
pening to  look  out  of  the  window,  which  faced  up  the  river,  she  caught  sight  of 
the  procession  bearing  down  upon  the  cottage,  and,  partly  surmising  what  had 
happened,  she  called  to  her  husband,  who  was  in  the  sitting  room  devoutly 
studying  the  portion  of  Scripture  he  was  to  read  that  morning  after  breakfast. 

"James,  James,  Jim  has  hooked  the  rooster,  and  knocked  another  prayer  on 
the  head.  We  shall  all  turn  heathen!  Do  go  out  and  help  him  as  soon  as  ever 
you  can  go!"  She  was  so  excited  and  spoke  so  hurriedly,  she  was  getting 
things  decidedly  mixed  in  her  mind. 

V/henever  Shanghai  got  into  any  kind  of  trouble  he  always  made  directly  for 
the  kitchen  door,  and  when  the  Tanner  went  out  he  found  him  lying  there  with 
bedraggled  wings  flapping  on  the  ground  and  with  his  bleeding  mouth  venting 
sounds  most  pitiful  to  hear. 

Jim  was  near,  reeling  up  the  slack  with  such  diligent  regard  for  the  directions 
given  to  him  the  day  before  that  the  Tanner,  notwithstanding  his  S}  .npathy  for 
the  unfortunate  fowl,  burst  into  an  uncontrollable  fit  of  laughter. 

Nor  was  it  possible  for  Ruth  to  keep  her  grave,  old  face  entirely  straight, 
though,  in  view  of  her  husband's  boisterousness,  she  chidingly  exclaimed: 
"James,  James,  haven't  you  just  been  reading  your  Bible?  And  do  you  suppose 
that  poor  rooster  can  take  any  enjoyment  in  this  sort  of  thing?" 

This  so  increased  the  Tanner's  mirth,  it  was  some  time  before  he  could 
master  himself  sufficiently  to  direct  Jim  to  go  into  the  house  and  fetch  him  the 
cut-nippers.  When  these  were  brought  he  cut  the  barb  of  the  hook  away,  and, 
disengaging  the  rest  of  the  hook  from  the  rooster's  bill,  stroked  him  down  a 
moment,  as  if  in  expiation  of  his  mirth,  and  then  allowed  him  to  go.  The  poor 
bird  walked  off  shaking  his  head  with  an  energy  which  showed  that  at  that  par- 
ticular moment  he  dissented  from  everything  in  the  universe. 

"Well,  Jim,"  asked  the  Tanner,  looking  at  the  discomfited  Ld,  "what  sort  of 
luck  do  you  call  that?" 

"Fool's  luck,  I  reckon,"  was  Xhe  unexpectedly  prompt  reply.  "I  wasn't 
thinkln'  o'  hindsight  when  I  throw' d.  But  I'd  a  thought  that  a  blamed 
critter  what  had  wor'd  feathers  all  his  born  days  might  a  know'd  the 
diff'runce  atween  a'  feathered  hook  an'  a  green  grasshopper,  anyway.  He 
gave   me  slch   a  skeer   he  almost  draw'd  the  soul  outen  my  body.     How- 


Ck 


.KvirUli'^v'.aaia.Mkl.&KuWiU£UKiirM«L^ 


iiqppfp^ppv^' 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


81 


s'mever,  I  do  pity  his  poor,  old  mouth;  it  must  be  feelin'  almost  ez  bad  ez  ef  his 
head  was  cut  smack  off." 

"Well,  no  harm  has  come  to  the  rod,"  said  the  Tanner,  taking  it  from  Jim 
and  looking  it  over  carefully. 

"But  it  was  a  mighty  stiff  gale  for  a  fust  trip,  an'  I'd  ez  much  ez  I  could  do 
to  steer  clear  o'  breakers;  hows'mever,  she  didn't  git  no  slack  on  me." 

"I  wonder  what  Shanghai's  opinions  are  about  the  business.     He  must  have 
been  very  hungry  to  tackle  such  a  fly^ 
as  that." 

"There!  Now  I  know  what  set  the 
blamed  critters  a  foUerin'  me  ez  ef 
they  was  lambs  follerin'  an  old  sheep. 
I  forgot  to  feed  'em  erfore  I  histed 
sails  for  the  trip.  I'll  go  an'  do  it 
now." 

And  he  started  off  for  an  extra 
allowance  for  the  flock.  Having  suf- 
fered so  much  for  the  want  of  food 
himself,  the  very  thought  of  the 
flock's  being  hungry  made  him  un- 
easy. Shanghai  ate  his  full  portion, 
and  not  long  after  mounted  the  wood 
pile  and  crowed  as  lustily  as  ever, 
although  his  voice,  as  Jim  remarked, 
was  a  little  hoarse. 

At  the  breakfast  table  Jim  gave 
a  comical  description  of  his  experi- 
ence while  being  dragged  toward  the 
cottage  after  the  rooster,  Ruth  and  the  Tanner  could  scarcely  eat  for  laughter. 
After  breakfast  Ruth  went  and  got  the  big  Bible  and  carried  it  to  the  Tanner,  but 
her  eyes  not  yet  having  ceased  their  twinklings,  they  so  tickled  her  husband  that 
he  said:    "Ruth,  I  think  the  Lord  will  excuse  us  this  morning  if  we  don't  pray." 

But  Jim  was  always  uneasy  when  he  thought  of  himself  as  the  cause  of  the 
omission  of  the  regular  order  of  the  cottage  life,  and,  as  he  went  on  his  way  to 
the  tannery  alone,  he  said  to  himself,  very  seriously:  "Ef  I  don't  look  out  I'll 
be  one  o'  them  upsettin'  sins  what  father  read  erbout  yisterday  mornin'.  But  I 
swan  I  didn't  go  for  to  do  It!" 

TaulMloJlmO  \ 


STOLG  UUT  AND  BHUT  THK  HKNHOUBB  UOOR. 


?^ 


82 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  simple  fact,  however,  was  that  the  Tanner  was  a  man  of  a  profoundly 
reverential  character,  who  couldn't  pray  unless  things  were  suitably  dove-tailed 
together.  That  evening  he  made  up  for  the  morning  omission  by  a  prayer  of 
unusual  fervency  and  length,  and  both  Ruth  and  Jim  were  relieved  from  a  great 
burden. 

"But  before  Jim  went  to  bed,  he  stole  out  and  shut  the  henhouse  door,  saying: 
"I'm  a  gonter  try  It  agin  in  the  mornin',  an'  I'm  blest  ef  I'm  gonter  have  either 

old  Shang  or  myself  upsettin'  any 
more  fishin'  or  prayin  ." 

He  was  at  the  pool  early  in  the 
morning.  This  time  he  attached  a 
smaller  fly  to  his  line  and  contented 
himself  with  shorter  casts.  He 
caught  no  salmon,  but  he  succeeded 
in  killing  three  fine  trout  and  in  get- 
ting his  first  taste  of  a  sport  whicli 
subsequently  afforded  him  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure. 

Before  the  season  closed  he 
caught  several  grilse,  or  young  sal- 
mon, and  had  won  the  reputation  of 
being  an  expert  fly  fisher. 

What  with  the  dip  net  and  the 
rod  he  supplied  the  cottage  with  all 
the  fresh  fish  It  needed,  and  this,  too,  without  interfering  with  his  regular  tanner 
work. 

It  wa.<i  some  time  before  Shang  could  be  induced  to  bite  at  anything  in  the 
Insect  line  again.  Jim  saw  him  studying  a  fat  grasshopper  one  day,  and  watched 
his  movements  with  a  good  deal  of  mirth.  After  slanting  his  head  and  cocking 
his  eye  at  the  grasshopper  for  a  moment,  Shang  turned  tail  and  made  for  the 
kitchen  uoor,  while  a  half-grown  rooster,  less  experienced  in  the  misfortunes  of 
life  and  more  hopeful  of  the  results  of  proper  enterprise,  came  along  and  swal- 
lowed the  grasshopper  withovt  compunction  or  hurt. 


SHANQ  TURNED  TAIL  AND  MADE  KUK  THE 
KITCHEN  DOOR. 


■,«_■  r-    »  \^y^     ■       yr 


\\df\a-  X 


0 


JIM'S    HORSE, 

NE  foggy,  drizzly  day,  Jim  got  leave  to 
go  up  the  river  fishing,  there  being  a 
good  trouting  sky  and  wind.  Feeling 
lonely  In  his  absence,  the  Tanner  busied 
himself  with  making  a  general  clear- 
up  of  the  scraping  room  in  the  tannery. 
This  room  contained  the  scraping 
benches  or  horses  upon  which  the  hides 
were  stripped  of  their  hair  after  they 
were  brought  from  the  vats.  These 
horses  had  two  wooden  legs  at  one  end, 
the  other  end  resting  upon  the  floor, 
giving  the  bench  an  incline  of  about 
forty-five  degrees.  The  top,  or  outer 
side,  v.'as  rounded  like  the  surface  of  a 
slab  cut  from  the  outside  of  a  log;  the 
Inner,  or  under  side,  being  flat.  In 
bustling  around  the  room  the  Tanner 
upset  Jim's  horse  so  that  it  lay  with  its 
two  legs  up  in  the  air.  On  the  smooth- 
pencil  scrawls,  which  he  recognized 
on  his  knees  he  began  to  decipher 
much  zeal  as  if  he  were  a  great  explorer  and  scholar  deciphering 

83 


ly  planed  under  side   he   found   some 
as  Jim's   hand-writing.     Getting   dov/n 
it  with  as 


ii.Mt 


fc,  ik.'i»>1^ii"j 


84 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


an  inscription  among  Egyptian  or  Aztec  ruins, 
more  he  chuclcled,  for  this  is  what  he  read: 


The  more  he  deciphered,  the 


This  Is  Jim  Mil's  boss  what  has  only  two  legsl 

An'  not  a  hair  uv  a  tail  fur  ihe  files; 
But  his  hed,  it  is  hi,  an'  he  stands  to  his  pegs 

Like  a  tree  what  is  courtin'  uv  the  skies. 

His  back.  It  is  roun",  but  his  stummick,  it  is  flat, 

An'  his  sides,  they  is  bllt  like  a  clam; 
He  hasn't  any  eyes;  an'  he  can't  get  very  fat, 

For  he  hasn't  any  mouth  for  to  cram. 

But  his  skin'  he  can  shed  it,  twenty  times  a  day, 

An'  never  make  a  tiiss  at  it  nuther; 
His  name  it  is  Scud,  tho'  he  never  runs  away, 

Nur  makes  for  us  any  kind  o'  bother. 

He's  a  boss  what  you  can  trust,  for  he  never  kicks  nur  shies. 

An"  he's  still  ez  if  he  allers  lived  in  clover; 
An'  you'll  never  know  he's  flat  till  you  takes  him  by  surprise— 

Or  his  legs,  an'  tip  him  away  over. 

Underneath  the  verses  was  written:  "It's  time  for  me  to  stop,  coz  the  legs 
of  these  ere  vusses  is  spreadin  out  so  wide  they'll  split  an'  tumble  over  ef 
I  don't." 

It  seems  that  Jim  had  been  working  alone  one  afternoon,  scraping  the  hair 
from  a  skin  placed  upon  the  back  of  his  wooden  horse.  It  struck  him  as  funny 
that  the  hair  and  hide  of  a  horse  should  be  changed  so  often  and  with  so  little 
fuss;  and,  seized  by  a  sudden  impulse,  he  turned  the  whole  establishment  over 
and  began  to  scribble  on  the  smooth  under  side.  When  he  was  done  he  put  the 
horse  on  his  two  legs  again  and  chuckled  to  himself:  "I  reckon  no  one  won't 
pick  up  that  po'try  nohow.  Scud  is  sich  a  sober  hoss  he'll  never  turn  hisself  up 
for  nobuddy  to  see  what's  unner  him." 

When  the  Tanner  had  deciphered  the  lines  and  the  note,  he  shouldered  the 
horse  bodily  and  started  for  the  cottage.  Seeing  him  enter  the  kitchen  in  this 
style,  Ruth  lifted  up  both  hands  in  amazement,  and  exclaimed  with  unwonted 
force:  "Well,  well!  James!  What  in  the  land's  name  are  you  doing  with 
that  bench  here?" 

But  the  Tanner  made  no  reply  until  he  had  deposited  his  load  bottom  upward 
upon  the  kitchen  table,  to  her  great  consternation. 

"There,  Ruth,  is  more  of  that  boy's  work.  Get  your  specs  an'  read  it  for 
yourself,"  and  the  Tanner  stood  pointing  at  the  penciling  with  the  air  of  a  man 
who  had  Just  discovered  a  comet. 

Ruth  did  as  she  was  bidden  and  before  she  got  through  with  the  words  she 
shook  so   much  with  ml'th,  the  Tanner  gave   her  a  gentle   nudge  in  the 


.  V  ■>• 


TAN  PILE  JIM  85 

side  with  his  elbow,  saying:  "Ruth,  Ruth!  aren't  you  getting  a  little  queer 
yourself?" 

Before  she  could  rt,ply,  hearing  a  commotion  in  front  of  the  house,  he  ex- 
claimed: "Those  confounded  hogs  are  in  the  flower  garden  again,"  and  both 
started  for  the  scene  of  the  disturbance  to  drive  the  invaders  out. 

Now,  anyone  who  has  ever  had  anything  to  do  with  hogs  will  not  be  surprised 
to  learn  that  though  the  Tanner  was  armed  with  a  stove  poker,  and  though  Ruth 


-♦^ 

^ 


DHJVINU   IlOCiS. 


shoo-shoo'd  at  them  vigorously  and  flapped  the  corner  of  her  apron  at  them  with 
all  her  might  it  was  some  minutes  before  the  enemy  was  dislodged. 

Meanwhile  Jim  had  returned,  and  having  a  good  string  of  trout,  he  hastened 
to  the  kitchen  that  he  might  lay  it  before  Ruth.  Reaching  the  door  and  seeing 
the  scraping  horse  upon  the  kitchen  table,  he  dropped  his  trout  upon  the  steps  in 
dismay  and  entered  to  convince  himself  that  he  was  not  mistaken. 

"How  in   the   name  uv  Jericho   did  that  hoss  git  keeled  up  therel"  he 


86 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


exclaimed.  Seeing  that  his  poetry  was  in  full  view,  and  dreading  lest  it 
should  be  seen,  he  shouldered  the  horse  and  hurried  off  to  the  tannery 
with  it. 

Having  driven  the  hogs  out  of  the  garden,  the  Tanner  and  his  wife  returned 
to  the  kitchen  by  way  of  the  front  entrance,  and  great  was  their  astonishment 
when  they  discovered  that  the  horse  was  missing. 

"Weil,  well!  James,  what  do  you  suppose  has  become  of  it?"  said  Ruth, 
more  than  half  inclined  to  think  that  there  was  something  uncanny  about  its 
disappearance. 

But  the  Tanner,  suspecting  the  truth,  made  his  way  directly  to  the  kitchen 

door,  where,  apparently  in  answer  to 
Ruth's  inquiry,  he  clapped  his  hands 
and  shouted;  "Scat!  you  miserable 
huzzy!" 

"  Land  sakes,  James!  What  on  earth 
do  you  mean  by  using  such  language 
as  that  to  your  wife?"  cried  Ruth,  in- 
dignantly. 

"Good  gracious,  Ruth!  What  are 
you  thinking  of?"  I  was  shooing  the 
cat  who  is  running  off  with  Jim's  fish." 
And  without  further  explanation  the 
Tanner  ran  after  the  cat,  who,  having 
seized  the  tail  of  a  small  trout,  was 
doing  her  best  to  get  away  with  the 
whole  string.  Securing  the  fish  and 
placing  them  out  of  danger,  and  seeing 
18  THAT  IN  THE  BIBLE?  HO  slgtts  of  Jim  nor  of  the  horse,  he 

went  up  to  the  tannery,  where  he  found  the  boy  busy  with  a  jack  plane  planing 
away  the  tell-tale  words  from  the  underside  of  the  scraping  bench. 

"Why,  Jim;  that  horse  doesn't  need  making  over,"  said  he,  as  soberly  as  if 
he  were  speaking  from  the  pulpit. 

"Dunno  'bout  that,"  Jim  replied,  reflecting  the  Tanner's  assumed  earnest- 
ness. "A  two-leggid,  wooden  hoss  what  ups  an'  walks  outen  a  place  where  it 
belongs  an'  goes  an'  lays  itself  bottom  up  on  a  table  where  it  doe.jn't  belong 
orter  have  sunthln'  done  to  It.' 

"But  he  Is  a  Pegasus  already."  ^ 

••What  kind  uv  a  Peggy  Is  that?" 


i.'tV/^ 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


87 


"It's  the  name  of  a  horse  that  made  the  springs  of  poetry  burst  out  whenever 
he  struck  the  ground  with  his  foot." 

"Is  that  in  the  Bible?"  suspiciously. 

"No,  not  exactly,"  and  the  Tanner  felt  as  if  he  were  digging  a  pit  for  his 
own  feet. 

"Wall,  you  knows  I'm  done  with  fo'cas'le  yarns,  an'  what  I  most  wants  to 
know  now  is  how  this  ere  boss  legg'd  it  to  the  kitchen  table.  'Tisn't  a  proper 
place  for  a  tan-hoss,  nohow." 

Being  put  to  the  confessional,  the  Tanner  made  a  clean  breast  of  it,  all  the 
way  up  to  the  mysterious  disappearance  and  the  coming  of  the  cat  upon  the 
scene.  He  told  the  story  in  such  a  comical  way,  Jim  had  to  drop  his  mask  of 
soberness,  and  when  he  heard  about  the  "Scat  you  huzzy!"  he  almost  went  into 
convulsions. 

"Wall,  you  orter  been  almost  skeered  to  death  for  upsettin'  Scud  an'  gittin' 
him  into  such  a  scrape,"  was  his  final  sentence  when  he  became  calm  enough 
to  put  h's  words  together  again. 

When  they  went  down  to  dinner,  Jim  found  Ruth's  face  shining  like  the 
polished  brass  andirons  of  the  parlor  fireplace.  The  trout  which  had  been  fried, 
were  not  very  large,  but  the  largest  and  brownest  one  of  the  fry  was  transferred 
to  his  plate,  and  he  was  so  hungry  from  his  long  tramp  up  the  river,  he  found  no 
difficulty  in  making  away  with  the  whole  of  it. 

On  going  back  to  the  tannery  after  dinner,  and  resuming  work,  the  Tanner 
was  not  long  in  finding  an  opportunity  to  say:  "Jim,  that  was  a  pretty  good 
riddle  of  yours." 

"What's  a  riddle?" 

"Something  you  have  to  guess  out;  but  I  thought  you  must  be  an  old  hand  at 
it,  and  I  was  going  to  ask  you  how  you  learned  to  make  riddles." 

"I  don't  call  it  no  riddle,  ef  you  means  what  I  writ  on  the  belly  uv  my  boss." 

"What  do  you  call  it  then?" 

"Ef  I  was  to  call  it  anythin',  which  I  don't.  I'd  call  it  a  parrerble,  coz  It's  a 
lettle  like  them  parrerbles  what  I  reads  outen  the  New  Testermunt." 

"And  its  not  a  bad  parable,  either.  We'll  call  it  our  tannery  parable,  for 
there  are  many  things  about  this  tannery  business  worth  studying  out,  and  he  is 
the  best  business  man  who  knows  the  most  about  his  business  and  makes  the 
most  out  of  it.  And  the  way  to  make  the  most  out  of  business  is  not  to  merely 
turn  it  into  dollars  and  cents,  but  to  make  It  the  means  of  quickening  one's 
thoughts  and  finding  something  wise  in  all  Its  parts." 

It  was  a  long  sermon  for    he  Tanner  to  preach,  but  he  couldn't  very  well 


88 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


m 


help  himself,  seeing  that  Jim  had  tapped  the  very  vein  which  he  himself  nad 
been  in  the  habit  of  working  all  his  life.  The  sermon  didn't  seem  long  to  Jim. 
There  was  that  in  the  various  processes  of  the  tannery  which  excited  his  curi- 
osity and  wonder  at  every  step.  Though  the  business  was  so  odorous  it  was  far 
from  being  odious  to  him.  It  was  hard  work  in  many  respects,  yet  never  so 
hard  as  to  prevent  Jim  from  associating  with  it  some  merry  or  useful  lessons. 

The  skins  of  calves  and  grown  cattle  came  into  the  tannery  salt  and  tough. 
After  being  soaked  in  soft  water  they  were  beaten  and  rubbed  to  make  them 
yielding  and  pliable.  Then,  after  removing  all  horns,  they  were  laid  away  in 
heaps  for  a  few  days,  after  which  they  were  hung  over  poles  in  a  smoking  room, 
where  they  were  heated  by  a  slow,  mouldering  fire.  This  was  done  to  rot  the 
skins  sufficiently  to  allow  of  the  easy  removal  of  the  hair.  From  the  heating 
and  drying  room  the  hides  were  taken  to  the  scraping  benches,  where,  by  the 
use  of  a  large  fleshing  knife,  the  hair  was  removed  and  the  hides  made  ready 
for  other  operations.  From  the  scraping  benches  they  were  thrown  into  vats 
cntalning  water  and  a  small  portion  of  sulphuric  acid;  this  was  called  the  raising 
process,  because  it  swelled  the  fiber  of  the  skin  and  made  it  so  porous  that  it 
readily  absorbed  the  substances  that  were  to  complete  the  changing  of  the  hides 
into  leather  which  would  be  tough  and  lasting.  From  the  raising  vats  the  hides 
were  removed  to  the  tanning  vats  at  the  end  of  forty-eight  hours.  In  the  tan- 
ning vats  they  were  laid  in  layers;  first  a  layer  of  skins  and  then  a  layer  of  ground 
oak  bark  until  the  vat  was  nearly  filled.  Here  they  remained  for  a  month  or  six 
weeks,  and  then  they  were  taken  out  so  as  to  admit  of  the  renewing  of  the  bark. 
When  they  were  returned  to  the  vat  those  that  had  been  lying  uppermost  were 
put  at  the  bottom.  This  process  was  sometimes  repeated.  After  being  sub- 
jected to  the  tanning  of  the  bark  for  two  or  three  months  the  hides  were  taken 
from  the  vats  and  hung  up  in  a  shed.  In  the  process  of  drying  they  were  com- 
pressed with  a  steel  tool  and  beaten  smooth  to  make  them  firm  and  dense. 
This  was  necessarily  a  slow  process.  When  finished  they  formed  the  tough  sole 
leather  known  to  commerce. 

The  tanning  of  calves'  skins  for  upper  leather  was.  In  some  respects,  differ- 
ent; the  principal  difference  being  the  currying  process  by  which  one  side  of  the 
leather  was  blackened  and  smoothed  to  give  it  the  handsome  appearance  it  has 
in  new  shoes. 

There  are  quicker  ways  of  tanning  leather  now,  but  the  hasting  has  on!y  led 
to  the  wasting,  for  what  has  been  gained  in  time  has  been  lost  in  the  lasting 
qualities  of  the  leather. 

Payzant  was  an  old-fashioned  tanner,  who  took  pride  In  the  quality  of  his 


■■iia^ 


T«^3lP5JPTPIW'"f-". 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


89 


wares;   he   didn't  believe   In  hurrying  his  processes  at  the   expense  of   his 
material. 

"Put  your  reputation  into  everything  you  do,  so  that  the  quality  of  your  work 
won't  be  ashamed  to  walk  arm-in-arm  with  your  reputation,"  was  one  of  the 
things  he  taught  Jim. 

The  more  Jim  learned  about  tanning,  the  more  respect  he  had  for  shoe 
leather  and  the  more  care  he  tooK  of  his  shoes  and  the  more,  also,  he  noticed 
the  boots  and  shoes  of  other  people. 

In  fact.  Jim's  horse  taught  him  a  good  many  things,  so  that  after  a  little  he 
was  perfectly  willing  to  change  its  name  from 
Scud  to  Pegasus;  for  many  and  many  a 
rhyme  did  he  jingle  over  it.  There  was  one 
snatch  which  became  a  great  favorite  with 
him.  because  when  his  arms  and  back  began 
to  ache  over  some  particularly  tough  hide,  it 
always  served  to  give  him  a  fresh  start: 

The  wustest  work  kin  be  turned  to  play. 
Ef  j'ou'i'e  up  to  snuff,  .an"  knows  the  way; 
Jist  think  you're  hiivin'  a  high  ol"  time. 
An'  up  with  the  words  an'  slap  on  the  rime 

Ef  you  can't  do  thl.s,  whistle  awhile. 
An"  see  ef  It  don't  make  things  like  He. 
Ef  you  only  tries,  a  boss  you'll  git 
What'U  gallop  you  outen  evTy  fit. 

Among  the  hides  Jim  pulled  out  of  the  vat 
was  one  quite  small  and  of  a  most  peculiar 
shape.  As  he  laid  it  on  his  horse  and  began 
to  smooth  it  down,  he  said  to  the  Tanner: 
"Seems  to  me  that  that's  the  teentiest  calf 
skin  I  ever  seed,  an'  sur's  my  name's  Jim 
Payzant.  it  must  a  been  born  'thout  legs!" 

"That  is  a  sealskin,"  replied  the  Tanner,  "and  now  Is  your  chance  to  tan 
those  shoes  you  wrote  about.  That  seal  was  shot  by  the  Squire,  who  is  having 
the  skin  tanned  with  the  intention  of  having  two  pairs  of  shoes  made  out  of  It 
for  Vi." 

Jim's  brown  face  couldn't  hide  the  blushes  that  mantled  his  cheeks  at  this 
astounding  piece  of  Information,  but  there  was  a  confiding  smile  around  his  lips 
when  he  asked:  "An'  may  I  tan  it  all  the  way  through,  myself?"  referring  to 
the  processes  to  which  the  hide  was  y?.t  to  be  subjected. 

"Certainly,  Jim;  but  you  must  be  very  careful,  the  least  neglect  spoils  the 


'MAY  r  TAN  IT  ALL  MYSELF?" 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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I.I 


1.25 


Ui  1^    III  2.2 

s-  "is  IIIIIM 


1.8 


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i 


^.vr  ■'>"^^'.y',  '-r<^"  ;v*-'~^i"""S''7'>    ■  ";■'.*;'  ■■  Y'":™3i  >.  ■'■■;'  •"/;■- 


90 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


best  of  skins."  And  then,  as  if  to  enforce  his  caution,  he  quoted:  "I'd  tan  her 
some  shoes  what  ud  never  grow  old,"  winking  the  while  in  a  most  grotesquely 
significant  manner. 

Jim's  embarrassment  vanished  in  a  moment,  and  he  said:  "Wall,  you  is 
the  funniest  old  boy  I  ever  heerd  on!  When  you  dies  I  spec'  your  grave- 
stone 11  snicker  right  out  every  time  it  thinks  what  a  queer  cove  you  was." 

When  that  sealskin  went  to  the  village  shoemaker  it  was  pronounced  one  of 
the  best  pieces  of  leather  that  ever  came  out  of  the  Payzant  tannery,  and  that 
was  saying  a  great  deal.  In  due  course  of  time  it  was  made  into  shoes  for 
Vi,  who,  however,  knew  nothing  of  Jim's  connection  with  them  until  sometime 
afterward. 


S*r^ 


f -^  "t^  #^5*1^1*7"*^' 


;';,f":;sv52t?: 


iCl'^K^ 


A    BACHELOR   ACQUAINTANCE. 


'VE  heerd  o'  hides  thick  an'  tough, 
but  this  is  the  thickest  an'  toughest, 
I  ever  seed  yit,"'  said  Jim,  as  he 
wrestled  with  one  of  the  heaviest 
hides  he  had  yet  taken  out  of  the 
vats.  It  was  as  much  as  he  could  do 
to  get  it  upon  Pegasus'  back,  and  as 
he  let  the  full  weight  of  it  fall  upon 
the  wooden  horse  it  fairly  made  the 
wooden  legs  squeak  and  groan. 

"It  is  the  skin  of  a  bull  moose,  one 
of  the  largest  ever  killed  in  this 
vicinity,"  said  the  Tanner,  by  way  of 
explanation. 

"An'  what's  a  moose?"  asked  the 

lad,   with    eyes    widely  opened,    he 

never  having  heard  the  name  before, 

and  judging  from  the  size  of  the  skin 

that  he  was  on  the  track  of  some- 

'■"-:..-        thing  new. 

"It's  one  of  the  wild  creatures  that  lives  in  the  woods  up  the  river,  and 

it  is  as  large  as  a  good-sized  horse,  and  fully  as  swift  in  its  movements.    The 

moose  from  which  this  skin  was  taken  had  horns,  or  antlers,  as  we  call  them, 

Gl 


1% 


<!:''i"-m. 


^'^r'^i::'-?>. 


92 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


nearly  five  feet  across  from  tip  to  tip — horns  which  looked  very  much  lilce  the 
branches  of  an  oak." 

"Mussy,  alive!"     How  did  they  ketch  the  critter?" 

"See  that  hole  there,  through  the  left  foreshoulder?" 

"Yis  sir."  And  Jim  poked  his  finger  through  it,  by  way  of  verifying  the 
sight  of  his  eyes. 

"Well,  that  is  where  he  was  shot.  Sometimes,  however,  they  are  snared 
with  a  big  noose  made  of  strong  rope." 

"A  noose  for  a  moose;  that's  a  jingle  what  helps  one  to  remember,  an'  a 
shot  for  that  spot  is  another." 

"A  good  way  to  fix  things  In  the  memory;  and  if  you  are  on  the  lookout  you 
can  find  many  aids  of  that  kind." 

Jim  knew  this  by  experience,  for  when  he  found  anything  that  was  more  than 
ordinarily  difficult  to  remember  he  always  invented  some  way  by  which  he  could 
master  the  difficulty,  and  it  was  here  his  rhyming  habit  assisted  him  materially. 

"Is  you  gonter  make  him  into  shoe  leather?" 

"Yes;  that  is  what  the  skin  is  here  for." 

"It'll  make  soles  thick  ernough  for  the  boots  uv  a  Sampson,  or  that  other 
feller  what  David  licked."  Jim  had  recently  discovered  that  the  Old  Tests.ment 
contained  some  thrilling  stories,  which  interested  him  much  more  than  any  dime 
novel  which  he  had  ever  read;  and  he  had  done  considerable  in  that  questionable 
line  of  literature. 

"Well,  there  is  nothing  like  having  a  good  thick  sole  under  your  feet,  especi- 
ally in  wet  weather." 

"But  I'd  hate  to  have  soles  made  uv  the  skin  of  sich  a  critter  as  that." 

"Why,  Jim?" 

"It  might  strike  through  into  a  feller's  legs  an'  git  to  runnin'erway  with  him, 
you  know." 

"Isn't  that  a  forecastle  view  of  sole  leather?" 

"Mebbe;  but  I  know'd  a  feller  in  our  fo'cas'le  what  wored  alligatur  shoes,  an' 
he  had  the  biggest  mouth  on  the  schooner  an'  a  appetite  like  a  shark." 

"Why,  Jim,  your  shoes  must  have  been  made  of  sheepskin." 

Jim  looked  at  the  Tanner  a  moment,  but  failing  to  get  any  clew  to  his  mean- 
ing, said:     "Where  does  your  pint  come  in?" 

"Wool  grows  on  sheep  and  yarn  is  made  out  of  wool  and  that  is  a  pretty  big 
yarn  you  are  spinning."  *  '-^      •      '  '  •, 

"An'  that's  what  I  call  shootin'  eroun*  two  corners  at  a  time.  But  what 
does  these  moose  critters  eat?' ' 


■•'-.ysjw'*? 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


93 


"You  have  cornered  me  on  the  yarn,  Jim,  and  I  think  it  will  be  best  for  me 
to  stick  to  the  plain  and  simple  truth,  for  that  seldom  or  never  gets  one  into 
crooked  places.  The  moose  lives  on  wild  grass  in  the  summer  and  on  birch 
trees  in  the  winter." 

"Is  that  what  makes  them  so  wild  an'  their  horns  like  trees?" 

"Look  here,  my  boy;  I'll  have  to  take  you  away  from  that  skin,  for  it  is 
having  a  bad  effect  upon  your  imagination." 

"No;  I  reckon  it  was  that  last  calfskin  I  scraped  what  has  struck  into  me. 
P'raps  you'd  like  to  give  me  a  lambskin  what  was  brought  up  tame 
an'  fed  on  the  bottle." 

"That  might  make  you  feel  frisk- 
ier'n  ever." 

During  the  whole  of  this  chaffing, 
J:m  was  scraping  at  the  mooseskin 
as  industriously  as  if  he  were  a  ma- 
chine, while  the  Tanner  was  none 
the  less  industriously  engaged  in 
putting  the  final  gloss  upon  a  very 
fine  calfskin. 

A  few  days  later,  when  the  moose- 
skin  was  nicely  reddened  and  thor- 
oughly dried,  the  Tanner  rolled  it 
up,  and,  after  tying  it,  said:  "Jim, 
this  is  quite  heavy;  but  do  you 
think  you  could  shoulder  it  and 
carry  It  up  to  Tom  Kenton,  the 
man  who  shot  the  moose  and  is 
the  owner  of  the  leather?" 

"What!  The  man  what's  been  courtin'  uv  one  gal  for  thirty  years,  an' 
hain't  got  marrid  yit?  I'm  jist  hankerin'  to  git  a  sight  uv  him  an'  his  den. 
You  kin  pile  on  another  hide  ef  you'll  let  me  go."  .    _,  •    > 

"Thank  you,  I  think,  however,  that  this  will  be  all  you  can  conveniently 
carry.     But  who  told  you  about  Tom?" 

"Bob  Buskirk.  He's  a  reg'ler  book  what  tells  me  erbout  everybody  an' 
everything  in  these  diggin's." 

"So  I  thought.  He  knows  altogether  too  much  for  so  young  a  chap 
as  he  is." 

"Is  he  a  yarner?"  "^   " 


JIM  STARTS  FOB  KENTON'S  HOME. 


^ 


R*?^ 


94 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Well,  no;  I  can't  say  that  he  is.  It  wouldn't  do  for  boys  to  get  that  sort  of 
reputation  in  Liveipool,  you  know." 

"I'm  mighty  glad  uv  it,  for  I  wants  everything  he's  told  me  erbout  Tom 
Kenton  to  come  true." 

"Tom  is  a  queer  stick,  and  the  boys  and  girls  all  like  him;  yet  you  would 
better  not  ask  him  how  long  he  has  been  courting.  He  once  knocked  a  man 
down  for  asking  him  that  question." 

"What  should  I  wanter  ask  him  for,  when  Bob  says  it's  so,  an'  you  don't  say 
it  tain't  so.  Bob  says  I'm  a  Yankee  corkscrew  for  asking  questions,  but  when  a 
bottle's  already  open,  I  knows  ernough  to  keep  my  corkscrew  in  my  pockit." 

"Yes,  I  know  that.  I'm  not  afraid  to  trust  you  on  an  errand  to  Tom.  He 
likes  boys,  for  all  he  is  such  an  old  bachelor,  and  he  and  you  will  get  along 
together  without  any  trouble.  If  he  asks  you  to  stay  with  him  awhile,  you  need 
not  be  in  a  hurry  to  get  back.  Tom  is  a  man  you  cannot  rub  against  without 
learning  something.  It  might  please  him  to  have  you  ask  him  how  he  killed 
the  moose." 

Jim  hoisted  the  roll  of  leather  upon  his  shoulder  as  if  it  was  a  bag  of 
feathers,  and  started  off  whistling  "Yankee  Doodle"  as  merrily  as  if  he  were  on 
his  way  to  a  circus  with  money  enough  to  pay  for  his  ticket  and  a  glass  of  red 
lemonade  in  the  bargain, 

Tom  Kenton  lived  at  Milton,  a  mile  and  a  half  up  the  river.  Reaching  the 
place  and  inquiring  where  his  house  was,  Jim  found  himself  directed  to  a  little, 
low-walled,  brown  cottage  almost  surrounded  with  shrubbery,  apple  trees  and 
rocks.  The  outer  walls  looked  as  if  they  had  never  known  the  touch  of  paint, 
but  they  were  picturesquely  spotted  with  vivid  flecks  of  grsen  and  brown  moss. 
The  roof,  made  of  the  oldest  kind  of  hand-split  shingles,  curled  up  on  the  edges 
as  if  each  one  was  afraid  of  coming  in  too  close  contact  with  its  fellow  shingle, 
had  numerous  houseleeks  growing  in  the  decaying  places  time  had  wrought. 
The  old  chimney  looked  like  a  small  fortification  taking  a  peek  above  the  ridge- 
pole, while  the  small  windows  and  miniature  lights  seemed  to  have  taken  a 
permanent  contract  to  prevent  the  sun  from  becoming  too  obtrusively  intimMe 
with  the  inside  of  the  cottage. 

Three  tall  lombardy  poplars,  hoary  and  gnarled  with  age,  stood  sentinel  in 
the  little  front  yard,  which  faced  both  the  road  and  the  river.  The  low, 
straggling  picket  fence  was  covered  with  a  profusion  of  vines,  while  the  ground 
was  overrun  with. a  tangle  of  bouncing  besses,  rose  bushes,  Cyprus  and  myrtles. 

When  Jim  picked  his  way  up  the  path  to  the  front  door,  which  was  so  low  it 
looked  as  if  it  had  been  built  for  a  dwarf,  he  threw  his  load  down  among  the 


»7r'»g?5wgsp!i!?5!': 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


95 


myrtle  vines  and  gave  a  gentle  tap.  His  knock  was  immediately  answered  by  a 
small,  dapper  man  of  about  fifty,  who  had  a  florid  face,  big,  gray  eyes,  immense 
mutton-chop  whiskers  and  a  head  as  round  as  a  bullet  and  as  bald  and  shiny  as 
an  agate  marble. 

"Be  you  Mister  Thomas  Kenton?"  asked  Jim,  as  respectfully  as  he  knew 
how,  although  he  recognized  the  man  from  Bob  Buskirk's  description  of  him. 

"Yes,  that's  my  name,"  said  Tom,  in  a  tremendously  deep,  bass  voice,  yet 
smiling  as  if  the  soles  of  his  feet  stood 
on  patent  ticklers. 

"Well.  Mister  Kenton,  here's  that 
moose  you  killed,  done  up  an'  tanned 
to  a  turn,  with  Mr.  Payzant's  compler- 
munts,  an'  he  hopes  as  how  you'll  find 
it  all  0.  K." 

Tom  gave  a  low,  gutteral  laugh— a 
laugh  which  was  so  deep  and  rumbly 
that  Jim  thought  to  himself:  "I  reckon 
he  must  be  the  granddaddy  uv  all  the 
snickers  in  creation.  He  beats  the 
sound  uv  father's  laughs  all  holler!" 

"I'm  glad  he  doesn't  come  to  me  in 
the  shape  in  which  I  first  met  him," 
remarked  Tom,  as  soon  as  he  ceased 
rumbling. 

"Did  he  give  you  a  tussle?"  asked 
Jim,  finding  that  he  had  a  splendid 
chance  to  apply  his  corkscrew  without 
danger  of  breaking  it  off  at  the  point, 
and  all  the  while  smiling  at  a  great 
rate  in  spite  of  his  attempts  to  look  as 
if  he  were  on  his  knees  at  morning 
prayers. 

"You  are  the  Tanner's  Yankee,  aren't  you?"  said  Tom,  swelling  his  a's 
until  they  sounded  very  much  like  o's,  and  for  the  moment  ignoring  Jim's  insin- 
uating question. 
"I  reckon!" 

"Ah!  I  thought  so.     I  have  heard  of  you  before.     Come  in,  come  in,  and 
I'll  tell  you  all  about  that  moose,"  and  the  man  was  so  cordial  in  his  invita- 


"BE  YOtr  MISTKR  TOM  KENTON?" 


'jmsmw 


96 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


tion,  Jim  walked  In  as  happy  as  a  bee  going  headforemost  Into  a  big  honey 
flower. 

After  passing  through  a  hallway  that  was  not  much  larger  than  a  good-sized 
trunk  set  up  endwise,  Jim  found  himself  in  a  low-walled  room  which  had  a  fire- 
place that  was  almost  as  large  as  itself.  There  were  seven  old-fashioned  chairs  in 
the  room,  and  it  didn't  take  Jim  long  to  discover  that  every  chair  was  a  rocker,  and 
that  no  two  of  them  were  alike,  and  that  each  one  was  also  painted  a  different 


"BF  IT  ISN'T  BBNOUGH  TO  GIVB  ONE  THE  JIM-JAMS, 


color.  The  hues  were  so  brilliant  they  looked  as  if  a  rainbow  had  struck  the 
house,  and,  going  to  pieces,  had  concluded  to  make  the  room  a  resting  place  for 
the  fragments. 

There  was  no  carpet  on  the  floor,  but  instead  an  Immense  black  bearskin, 
with  hair  upwards,  claws  stretched  out  at  full  length,  head  as  natural  as  life,  with 
eyes  shining  and  teeth  glistening  so  ferociously,  that  Jim  gave  it  a  wide  berth 
when  he  moved  towarci  the  immense  rocker  Tom  motioned  him  into.     The  walls 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


97 


honey 


were  almost  covered  with  a  wilderness  of  rods,  guns,  pistols,  snow-shoes,  old 
coats  and  vests,  birds'  nests,  skins,  dried  leaves,  withered  fruits,  and  other  things 
too  numerous  to  mention.  The  corners  of  the  room  were  filled  with  rocks  and 
minerals  of  many  kinds  piled  up  or  scattered  about  so  that  each  corner  looked 
like  the  mouth  of  a  mine.  The  ceiling  was  pasted  over  with  all  sorts  of  pictures 
clipped  from  illustrated  papers  and  old  magazines.  On  one  side  of  the  room 
there  was  a  big  mahogany  table  covered  with  a  vast  litter  of  old  papers  and 
books. 

"Ef  it  isn't  ernough  to  give  one  the  j'im-jams,"  thought  Jim,  after  glancing 
around  furtively  and  swiftly,  seeing  everything,  and  yet  appearing  to  see  nothing. 

"Now  about  that  moose,"  began  Tom,  as  soon  as  he  had  dropped  himself 
into  a  rocking  chair  that  was  even  larger  than  the  one  Jim  had  lost  himself  in. 
"Do  you  see  that  rifle  up  ihere  and  those  snow-shoes,  and  that  birch-bark  moose- 
call,  and  that  coat  with  the  holes  punched  through  it?"  pointing  to  the  objects 
successively  and  speaking  rapidly — very  rapidly  for  one  who  had  such  a  heavy 
voice  to  handle. 

lim  admitted  that  he  did. 

"Well,  sir,  that  was  the  hunting  outfit  with  which  I  went  out  last  winter  and 
came  near  leaving  in  the  woods,  with  myself  to  boot.  I  had  been  calling  through 
the  birch-bark  call  in  imitation  of  a  cow  moose,  when  all  at  once  a  big  bull  moose 
came  crashing  through  the  timber  like  an  elephant,  and  was  upon  me  before  I 
knew  what  had  happened.  I  aimed  and  fired,  but  apparently  without  effect,  for 
in  an  instant  the  moose  had  pushed  me  down  and  had  given  me  such  blows  with 
his  feet  that  all  my  senses  were  knocked  clean  out  of  me.  When  I  came  to 
consciousness  again  I  was  in  the  hands  of  two  Micmac  Indians  who  had  picked 
me  up  for  dead.  It  was  then  I  found  out  how  easy  it  is  to  be  mistaken,  for  the 
moose  was  dead  and  I  was  alive. 

"The  Indians  made  a  fire  and  built  a  rough  camp  on  the  spot,  and  as  none 
of  my  bones  were  broken  I  was  soon  sitting  up  taking  an  account  of  what  was 
left  of  me.  Next  morning  they  brought  me  out  of  the  woods,  and  getting  help 
went  back  and  brought  the  moose  after  me.  But  I  groaned  for  six  weeks  after- 
ward, I  was  so  badly  hurt.  And  the  scars  I  bear  as  the  result  of  that  fight,  or 
rather  moose  mauling,  for  it  was  an  entirely  one-sided  affair,  are  numerous 
enough  to  stock  a  dozen  soldiers  with. 

"I  was  so  used  up  I  didn't  eat  much  of  that  moose  meat.  I  gave  it  away, 
only  stipulating  that,  as  I  had  escaped  the  moose  by  the  skin  of  my  teeth,  the 
skin  of  the  moose  should  be  saved  for  me.     I  sent  a  quarter  of  the  meat  to  the 

TanPileJIm?  .  '  r  i 


mJ^I^!:^^  >.    v   yjrfLi«^: 


■  "^ 


98 


TAN   PILE  JIM 


Tanner,  and  he  liked  it  so  well  he  agreed  to  tan  the  hide  for  nothing.  I  saved 
the  horns  and  have  them  in  another  room." 

"Isn't  a  man  a  goose  what  tackles  a  moose?"  asked  Jim,  innocently,  think- 
ing only  of  the  danger  Tom  had  escaped. 

"Not  if  he  knows  his  business,"  replied  Tom,  looking  at  him  quizzically,  and 
giving  one  of  his  big,  fat  laughs.  Then  seeing  that  the  boy  was  somewhat  em- 
barrassed by  the  way  he  had  put  his  foot  in  it,  he  asked  him  to  go  to  another 
room  where  the  antlers  were. 

Jim  followed  him  to  the  other  side  of  the  small  hall  and  found  himself  in  a 
room  of  the  same  size  as  that  which  he  had  just  left.  Its  fire  place  was  as  big 
as  the  other,  but  the  mantel  and  side  furnishings  were  much  more  elaborate 
with  carvings  of  figures  and  scroll  work  wrought  by  hand  in  some  remote  past. 

In  this  room  Tom  slept,  and  Jim  thought  it  was  the  funniest  bedroom  he  had 
ever  heard  or  dreamed  of. 

The  antlers  were  nailed  to  the  wall  at  the  head  of  the  bed.  Reefed  up 
among  its  numerous  prongs  was  an  immense  mass  of  gauzy  mosquito  netting 
which,  when  occasion  called,  was  unfolded  and  spread  like  a  vast  cloud  over 
the  bed. 

"Them  is  the  bustingest  horns  I  ever  seed.  Why,  they  look  jist  like  a  bone 
yard.  It  could  spare  crooks  an'  pints  ernough  for  all  the  rams  in  the  region," 
said  Jim.  "You  must  have  been  a  mighty  spry  man  to  git  outen  that  tangle  o' 
bone  timber  erlive." 

"Oh,  almost  any  man  can  be  smart  in  a  case  like  that,  especially  when  the 
moose  dies  and  a  pair  of  Indians  happen  along  at  the  right  time."  And  Tom 
looked  at  the  boy  in  such  a  peculiar  way  that  photographs  of  the  antlers  appeared 
among  the  wrinkles  at  the  corners  of  his  eyes.  Jim  didn't  know  which  to 
admire  the  more,  the  horns  or  their  owner.  Upon  the  whole,  he  was  finally 
inclined  to  think  that  Tom  Kenton  was  the  better  trump  of  the  two. 

It  was  Impossible  for  even  a  boy  to  remain  embarrassed  in  the  presence  of 
such  a  man,  and  Jim's  eyes  began  to  wander  over  the  room  with  as  much  free- 
dom as  if  he  were  alone,  and  his  tongue  became  as  limber  as  a  birch  leaf. 

"What  a  bed!"  he  exclaimed,  surveying  that  article  with  admiration  and 
wonder.     "Looks  like  a  white  cloud  what  had  got  stuck  in  a  timber  pile." 

And  it  did  for  a  fact.  The  counterpane  was  as  white  and  as  clean  as  fine 
linen  and  soap  and  water  could  make  it.  The  underlying  material  piled  itself  up 
to  a  height  of  nearly  three  feet.  The  four  posts  were  as  big  and  round  and  fat 
as  butchers,  and  the  timber  composing  the  sides  looked  as  if  they  were  sections 
cut  from  the  keel  of  a  ship.     Such  a  big,  strong  bed  for  so  small  a  man  was 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


99 


enough  to  make  a  mosquito  laugh.  If  Jim  could  have  seen  the  under  part  of 
that  bed,  he  would  have  discovered  that  it  was  corded  up,  after  the  old-fashioned 
style,  with  ropes  that  might  have  .answered  as  hawsers  for  good  sized  fishing 
schooners. 

"When  one  gets  into  that  bed,"  remarked  Tom,  "he  can  say  to  the  moon 
and  stars,  'Now  you  can  tend  to  your  business  and  roll  around  as  much  as  you 
please,  and  I'll  tend  to  mine  and  sleep  like  a  log  which  has  forgotten  how  to 
roll.'  And  when  he  gets  out  of  it  he  can  tackle  the  day  feeling  like  a  squirrel 
that  starts  to  run  up  a  tree." 

"An'  who  makes  it  up  arter  you've  tumbled  it?" 

"The  man  who  sleeps  in  it." 

"An'  who  gits  the  breakfast?" 

"The  man  who  eats  it." 

"But  why  doesn't  you  git  marrid?" 

"Because  I'm  not  old  enough.   When  I'm  plump  sixty  I'm  going  to  marry." 

"That'll  be  orful  late  to  raise  a  famerly." 

"I  don't  want  any  family.  There  are  families  enough  in  the  world  already, 
and  I  have  all  the  fun  I  want  by  meddling  with  other  people's  children." 

"But  won't  you  git  tired  o'  courtin'  an'  give  it  up  erfore  you  knows  it?" 

"Look  here,  my  lad!"  and  Tom  spoke  quite  sharply,  and  did  his  best  to  look 
cross  and  ugly  as  he  added:  "Has  anybody  been  telling  you  anything  about  my 
courting  affairs?' ' 

Jim  saw  that  his  queer  entertainer  was  only  shamming  a  thunder  storm,  and 
didn't  hesitate  to  say:     "Ef  you  won't  git  mad  I'll  say  yis." 

"It  doesn't  pay  to  get  mad,  my  boy;  it  is  like  putting  a  hornet's  nest  under 
your  vest  for  the  sake  of  sending  a  few  of  them  after  somebody  else."  And  Tom 
frowned  as  if  the  very  idea  of  getting  mad  was  enough  to  make  him  mad. 
Besides  there  was  something  in  this  Yankee  boy  that  warmed  him  like  ginger 
tea,  while  it  mellowed  him  like  summer  sunshine.  Jim  began  to  think  that  it 
was  impossible  that  he  should  ever  have  knocked  a  man  down  for  asking  about 
his  love  affairs.     Nevertheless  it  was  true,  strange  as  it  may  seem. 

Without  asking  who  Jim's  informant  was,  Tom,  twinkling  clear  to  the  bottom 
of  his  eyes,  asked:     "And  what  have  they  told  you  about  my  private  affairs?" 

"They  say  you  knows  how  to  make  candy  last." 

"Ho,  ho.  ho!"  laughed  Tom.  deeply.  "  'Pon  my  soul,  that  is  a  good  one, 
and  I  should  be  a  fool  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  it!" 

Tom  Kenton's  courting  was  a  strange  affair.  No  wonder  people  talked  about 
it.     Peggy  Freeman,  "his  girl,"  was  unlike  Tom,  in  that  she  was  tall  and  very 


100 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


thin;  but  she  was  quite  like  him  as  regarded  opinions  about  the  family  business. 
Perhaps  this  was  in  part  owing  to  the  fact  that  she  had  to  play  the  aunt  to  about 
half  the  families  in  the  Village  of  Milton,  and  had  besides  served  as  teacher  to 
the  children  of  half  a  generation.  She  was  as  sweet  as  preserved  citron,  and 
always  looked  as  neat  and  clean  as  a  clothes-pin.  Every  Saturday  night  Tom, 
dressed  in  his  best,  visited  her,  but  as  soon  as  the  clock  struck  ten  he  took  his 
departure.  During  the  whole  thirty  years  of  his  courtship  he  never  put  his  arms 
around  her  or  ventured  upon  any  kindred  familiarity.  His  utmost  allowance  was 
limited  to  the  one  kiss  a  week,  exchanged  in  a  business-like  way  at  the  tem- 
perate hour  of  parting.  The  whole 
village  took  an  interest  in  the  pair, 
though  it  couldn't  conscientiously  ap- 
prove of  them  as  an  example  for  the 
public.  Milton  was  a  small  place 
and  if  marrying  had  gone  by  Tom's 
example  it  would  have  been  smaller 
still. 

But  to  get  back  to  Tom's  bed- 
room again.  On  the  walls  were 
pinned  bugs,  butterflies,  moths  and 
millers  in  endless  profusion.  And 
there  were  not  a  few  stuffed  birds 
and  small  animals  stuck  around  in 
the  various  corners. 

Tom  seemed  to  have  had  a  pas- 
sion  for    crooked    sticks   also,   for 
TOM'S  PET  BATS.  whenever   he    could  find  one   that 

looked  like  a  pig's  tail  or  had  a  root  that  resembled  an  ugly  face  or  a  pell-mell 
dream  of  goblins  and  animals  he  would  bring  it  home  and  hang  it  up  in  his 
bedroom. 

His  queer  sleeping-room  had  but  one  chair,  a  vast  rocker  made  of  the 
crookedest  pieces  of  wood  the  forest  could  afford.  It  looked  as  if  it  had  been 
screwed  into  shape  by  a  whirlwind,  but  when  one  sat  down  In  it  he  felt  as  lazy 
ari  if  he  never  wanted  to  move  again.    '  _..    ' 

Over  the  old  mantle,  which  was  carved  from  oak  grown  rich  with  all  the 
colors  of  age,  was  the  one  thing  Tom  prized  above  all  others — a  large,  fine,  old 
oil  painting  of  a  bevy  of  beauties  in  a  palace  hall  receiving  the  homage  of  a 
number  of  brave  gallants.     That  side  of  the  room  was  kept  clear  of  everything 


g^^ir-xt 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


101 


r 


that  would  in  anyway  interfere  with  the  pre-eminence  of  the  picture,  which  was 
expensively  framed  in  gilt. 

Two  cages  of  canaries  hung  in  the  room,  and  in  the  fire  place,  among  the 
collection  of  dried  mosses  and  foliage,  there  was  a  little  grotto  built  of  stones  of 
every  hue  and  shape.  Tom  went  up  to  this  grotto  and  gave  a  low  whistle,  and 
immediately  two  white  rats  ran  out,  climbed  up  his  fat  legs  and  mounted  to  his 
shoulders,  where  they  presently  began  to  play  hide-and-go-seek  with  his  ears — 
which  were  by  no  means  small — and  one  another. 

One  of  the  canaries  began  to  sing,  and  thereupon  one  of  the  rats  pricked  up 
its  own  ears,  and,  after  listening  a  moment,  began  to  sing  also,  but  with  notes 
far  more  musical  and  varied  than  any  the  canary  made. 

•'I'll  never  say  rats  again  to  nobuddy,"  exclaimed  Jim,  in  amazement,  "for 
them  is  the  cutest  critters  I  ever  seed!" 

In  the  room  was  a  seven-storied  bureau,  old  and  elaborately  carved.  The 
wood  looked  like  congealed  blood,  it  being  made  entirely  of  solid,  gnarled 
mahogany.  Seeing  that  it  attracted  Jim's  attention,  Tom  told  him  that  the 
next  time  he  visited  him  he  would  show  him  some  of  the  things  that  were  in  it. 
Just  then  he  wanted  to  show  him  something  else,  because  he  was  in  the  tanning 
business  and  interested  in  shoes. 

Following  Tom,  Jim  was  led  through  a  dark  passage  way  and  through  several 
rooms  of  the  low,  rambling  building  until  he  reached  an  out-pantry  situated  near  a 
great  rock  which  nearly  overtopped  it.  Here,  instead  of  the  shelves  being  filled 
with  dishes  and  their  usual  accompaniments,  they  were  fairly  stuffed  with  a 
vast  collection  of  old  boots  and  shoes  that  had  long  since  served  their  day 
and  generation. 

When  Tom  Kenton  first  came  into  the  possession  of  the  place  he  found  the 
floor  covered  with  heaps  on  heaps  of  old  footwear,  an  ancient  maiden  sister  who 
preceded  him,  who  was  known  as  Aunt  Debby,  having  expended  all  her  maid- 
enly instincts  in  the  direction  of  collecting  old  boots  and  shoes.  Not  because 
she  was  of  a  commercial  turn  of  mind,  but  because — to  her — every  pair  of 
shoes,  from  the  worn  out  baby  shoe  to  the  hard  old  cases  of  the  worn  lumber- 
man's castaway  boots,  was  a  story  in  itself. 
\  "I  took  them  all  out,"  said  Tom,  speaking  of  them,  "and  was  going  to  make 
a  bonfire  of  them  after  Debby' s  death,  but  when  I  began  to  think  about  them 
my  heart  misgave  me,  and  so  I  put  them  all  back  again.  For  thirty  years  I 
have  steadily  added  to  them,  though  I  have  confined  my  part  of  the  collection 
mostly  to  the  cast-off  footwear  of  people  who  had  something  in  them  to  com- 
mend them  to  my  respect.     It  came  to  pass  that  when  anybody  died  or  was 


102 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


married,  their  old  shoes  were  brought  to  me  for  preservation.  If  the  former 
owners  of  these  boots,  shoes  and  slippers  should  take  a  notion  to  suddenly  step 
into  them  we  should  have  lively  times  here." 

"Reckon  we  should,"  said  Jim,  shrugging  his  shoulders.  "An'  I'd  make 
lively  tracks  for  home.  How  kin  you  sleep  with  sich  a  pile  uv  them  almost 
unner  your  nose.  Mister  Tom?" 

"Oh,  they  don't  trouble  me  in  the  least  in  the  night  time;  it's  only  when  I 
come  here  on  Sunday  and  begin  to  think  that  I  get  troubled."     And  Tom's 

face  assumed  quite  a  melancholy  ex- 


pression, as  if  the  associations  were 
too  much  for  him. 

Suddenly  lighting  up  as  with  a 
flash,  he  said:  "Got  a  pair  of  old 
shoes  you'd  like  to  have  laid  up  with 
the  rest  of  them,  Jim?" 

"No,  sir!"  was  the  emphatic  reply. 
"When  I'm  through  with  my  shoes  I 
reckon  you'll  have  hard  work  to  find 
what  is  left  of  them.  But  don't  you 
never  hear  these  critters  clatterin' 
erbout  at  night?" 

"Never  did  but  once." 
"Jerusalem,    Jonah!      You    don't 
say!"  and  Jim   made  an  involuntary 
movement  toward  the  door. 

"Oh,  there  was  nothing  really  to 
be  afraid  of.  I  was  roused  by  a  tre- 
mendous racket  one  night  in  this 
room.  When  I  came  in  to  see  what  was  to  pay  I  found  that  a  pair  of  young 
foxes  had  been  trying  to  make  a  selection  from  the  old  shoes  for  their  supper. 
The  door  had  been  left  open.  When  they  went  out  they  went  between  my 
naked  shanks,  as  I  stood  in  the  doorway,  and  for  a  moment  scared  me  almost 
as  much  as  if  they  had  been  real  ghosts.  If  the  former  owners  of  these  shoes 
ever  come  back  here  to  see  how  their  shoes  are  getting  along, they  are  so  quiet 
about  it  we  never  know  of  their  presence." 

It  was  now  getting  time  for  Jim  to  think  of  returning  home,  and  he  so 
expressed  himself. 

"I  hear  that  you  are  a  good  fisherman,"  said  Tom.     "Now,  if  the  Tanner 


MR.  KENTON'S  OLD  SHOE  MCSEUH. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


103 


will  let  you  off  Saturdi'y  afternoon,  come  up,  and  we  will  go  to  my  private  fishing 
place  and  have  a  time  of  it." 

"He'll  let  me  off,  for  sure;  coz  he  said  ez  how  you  was  jist  the  feller  for  a 
youngster  to  rub  hisself  aginst,  an'  now  I  knows  you  is  for  sart'n." 

"The  Tanner  is  a  man  after  my  own  heart,  Jim,  and  if  you  will  let  him  tan 
you  according  to  his  notions  of  tanning,  you  will  have  a  splendid  hide;  one  that 
will  neither  be  too  thick  nor  too  thin,  and  one  that  won't  wear  out  in  a  hurry.  ' 

Jim  left  Tom  Kenton  feeling  as  light  hearted  as  if  the  world  was  a  pali.ce, 
and  his  companions  kings.  And  Tom  parted  from  him  feeling  just  the  least  bit 
lonesome  when  he  disappeared  down  the  road. 

When  Jim  got  home  he  was  like  a  soda  fountain,  and  the  moment  the  spifot 
was  turned  by  the  Tanner's  question  as  to  what  he  thought  of  the  Milton  bacn- 
elor,  he  poured  forth  a  sparkling  account  of  his  visit. 


-•Tvj-.  •-•yic'  ■»"'■/!",'.•'*'  ■^•*  '   '" 


'<l*-'. 


■'-..    r-\  -•,  -r 


SHINIDNIQUIT  POND. 

QUIPPED  with  rod  and  creel,  and  in 
high  spirits,  Jim  presented  himself  at 
Tom  Kenton's  cottage  early  Saturday 
afternoon. 

"Ah!  Here  we  are!"  exclaimed 
Tom,  jovially,  using  one  of  his  favor- 
ite expressions,  as  he  opened  the 
door,  and  seeing  j'im's  radiant  face, 
bade  him  enter  while  he  got  his  own 
traps  together. 

"Shall  take  my  gun  along;  we  may 
stumble  upon  game,  you  know.  Two 
strings  to  a  bow  are  sometimes  better 
than  one,  and  game  and  fish  go  well 
together  when  you  want  to  sit  down 
to  a  dinner  that  is  to  tighten  your 
vest."  And  Tom  kept  on  talking  all 
the  while  he  was  putting  on  his  canvas  hunting  jacket,  slinging  his  ammunition 
over  his  shoulder  and  dusting  his  rifle  from  muzzle  to  stock. 

When  his  rod  made  its  appearance  Jim  saw  that  it  was  a  beauty,  and  all  its  files 
were  in  keeping,  although  made  by  Tom  himself  during  his  moments  of  leisure, 
.:.  105  ■  ~'':^:-  V-  ''<.. 


'•»  i  i' 


1i 


^::P 


fe: 


106 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"The  man  who  makes  his  own  flies,"  said  he,  "can  suit  the  tastes  of  his  fish- 
ing acquaintances,  and  that,  you  know,  is  the  largest  part  of  politeness." 

Jim  absorbed  his  satire  slowly,  and  was  so  overwhelmed  by  it  he  merely  re- 
marked, that  Tom  was  sinking  his  lead  a  little  too  deep  for  him. 

By  special  invitation  of  Tom,  Towzer  was  along,  and  he  was  watching  every 
movement  of  the  pair  with  the  heartiest  signs  of  approbation.  For  all  he  was  a 
full-blooded  Newfoundlander,  whose  preferences  ran  to  water,  he  was  compe- 
tently up  to  snuff  whenever  he  could  get  a  chance  to  go  into  the  woods,  as  Tom 
well  knew. 

Cutting  cross  lots  over  Tom's  by  no  means  limited  fields,  they  came  to  the 

edge  of  the  woods  where  they  struck 
a  disused  lumber  road  which  lead 
them  directly  into  the  deep  shadows 
of  the  forest.  They  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance  in  the  woods  when 
Towzer  flushed  a  covey  of  part- 
ridges, bringing  Tom  to  the  front 
with  his  rifle.  Down  came  a  part- 
Ige,  but  the  rest  of  the  covey  in- 
stead of  removing  themselves  from 
danger,  flew  up  into  a  fir  tree,  whence, 
according  to  their  foolish  habit,  they 
did  not  budge  until  the  greater  part 
of  them  had  fallen  victims  to  Tom's 
marksmanship. 

"There's  four  for  you  and  Towzer 
and  two  for  me  and  the  rifle,"  said 
Tom,  tallying  the  game,  as  he  stuffed 
it  into  the  big  pockets  of  his  hunting 
jacket. 

Jim   protested,  but   Tom   silenced 
According  to  my  arithmetic  there  are  four  of  you  and 


OFF  FOB  A  DAY'S  SPORT. 


him  in  part  by  saying: 
but  one  of  me." 

"Four  uv  me!"  responded  Jim,  musingly.     "Why,  you  must  be  looking  at 
me  cross-eyes,  an'  seein'  double  with  both  on  'em." 

"But  I  count  Towzer,  the  Tanner  and  Ruth  to  make  the  four." 
"If  you  keeps  on  figgering'  that  way  you'll  never  git  rich,"  Jim  replied,  be- 
ginning to  get  a  glimpse  at  Tom's  generosity. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


107 


"Why  should  I  care  about  getting  rich  when  I  have  only  one  set  of  teeth  to 
provide  for,  and  they  only  two  years  old!" 

Jim  was  entirely  ignorant  of  false  teeth,  and  he  supposed  that  Tonn's  fine 
munchers  were  as  genuine  as  his  own.  "Did  you  shed  your  teeth  two  years 
ago?"  he  asked,  seriously. 

Seeing  how  innocent  he  was  of  the  mysteries  of  dentistry  and  ready  for  fun 
of  any  description,  Tom  replied:  "I  can  shed  them  whenever  I  please."  As  if 
to  illustrate  his  words  to  Jim's 
doubting  eyes,  he  put  his  hand- 
kerchief to  his  mouth,  and  after 
an  apparent  great  outlay  of 
strength  and  sundry  contortions 
of  countenance,  he  pulled  out  his 
upper  plate  of  teeth  and  exhi- 
bited them  to  Jim. 

"Good  hevings,  Mr.  Kenton'" 
Jim    exclaimed   with    distended  f 
eyes,  "kin  you  unship  your  arms* 
an'  legs  in  that  style?"  ' 

Seized  with  a  violent  fit  of 
mirth,  and  not  being  willing  to 
exhibit  his  collapsed  upper  lip 
too  much,  Tom  clapped  the  teeth 
back  and  gave  a  chuckle  which 
sounded  like  distant  thunder, 
leaving  the  boy  more  mystified 
than  ever. 

"Would  you  like  to  see  me 
take  my  head  off?"  and  Tom  put 
on  such  a  long  face,  and  other- 
wise exhibited  such  an  earnestness  of  purpose,  Jim  began  to  think  he  was  ready 
to  begin  operations  at  once 

"Was  you  built  in  a  doll  shop,  Mr.  Tom?"  And  then  thinking  of  the  ab- 
surdity of  his  fears,  and  detecting  the  glimmer  in  Tom's  eyes,  he  added:  "Ef 
you  wants  to  drop  to  pieces  you  must  wait  till  I  kin  git  a  baskit  so's  to  take  the  pieces 
out  the  woods  agam.     But  how  in  natur  did  you  git  them  teeth  out'n  in  so  slick?" 

"Really,  my  boy,  now!  Do  you  pretend  to  say  that  you  never  heard  of  arti- 
ficial teeth?" 


TALLYINO  THB  GAME 


■>^w!*=i^r^.' 


'.Jf. 


108 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"I've  heerd  o'  artichokes,  but  I  never  got  onto  artifish.  Does  you  mean  that 
your  teeth  Is  like  fish  teeth?"  He  kne^  not  the  meaning  of  the  word  artificial, 
and  so,  s^-^^ociated  the  sense  with  the  sound. 

'  Artificial  :neans  manufactured;  my  toeth  were  manufactured  for  me  by  a 
dentist." 

"An'  did  the  dentist  make  the  rest  uv  you?" 

'By  Jove,  Jim!     You'll  shake  me  to  pieces  in  spite  of  myself,"  but  Tom's 

face  looked  as  if  he  were  more  in  danger  of  burning  up  than  of  falling  to  pieces. 

Towzer,  who  ^^is  prowling  around  on  his  own  account,  was  now  barking 

violently  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  among  the  branches  of  which  sat  a  great  gray 

squirrel  barking  back  at  him  with 
all  his  might.  A  shot  from  the 
rifle  brought  him  to  the  ground. 
Not  long  after  they  secured  a  big 
rabbit;  then  two  more  squirrels 
and  three  partridges. 

Jim  had  never  handled  a  gun, 
and  Tom's  marksmanship  was  a 
wonder  to  him. 

"Have  a  shot?"  asked  Tom, 
loading  up  again  after  he  had  shot 
the  last  partridge. 

"Don't  keer  ef  I  does;  but  I 
reckon  we'll  both  have  to  keep 
well  astarn  uv  the  thing,  ef  we 
don't  wanter  git  hurt.  What' 11  1 
shoot  at?" 

"For  the  first  mark,  you  can 
shoot  at  the  center  of  that  stump 
over  yonder.  If  you  are  going  to  stay  in  these  parts  you  must  learn  to  shoot, 
for  there  is  plenty  of  wild  game  in  these  woods,  and  shooting  is  our  way  of 
cheating  the  butcher,  you  know." 

Jim  tooK  careful  aim  under  Tom's  instructions,  and  planted  the  ball  quite 
near  the  center  of  the  stump.  -  . 

Tom  praised  the  shot,  and  putting  a  small  piece  of  paper  upon  the  bole  of  a 
pine  tree  told  him  that  if  he  struck  within  the  line  he  had  marked  by  a  pencil  he 
would  ask  the  Tanner  to  buy  him  a  gun. 

Thus  encouraged,  Jim  steadied  himself  to  his  position,  took  a  quicK.  flash 


JIM'S  FIRST  SHOT. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


i09 


aim,  and.  though  twenty  yards  distant  from  the  target,  put  his  ball  very  near  the 
center  of  the  mark. 

Tom  was  delighted,  but  to  assure  himself  that  it  was  not  a  chance  success, 
he  tried  him  a[;ain  and  found  thrat  he  did  even  better  than  before. 

"Capital,  capital!"  and  Tom  rubbod  his  hands  with  as  much  satisfaction  as  if 
the  boy  had  shot  a  moose.  "It  is  in  you,  Jim,  and  no  mistake,  and  the  Tanner 
will  be  sure  to  get  you  a  gun.  He  is  a  crack  shot  himself,  though  he  quit 
shooting  long  ago  and  gave  his  gun  to  Bellhead,  one  of  his  Indian  friends.  You 
handle  a  gun  as  if  you  were  born  to  it,  and  already  know  how  to  be  careful  at 
the  breech,  as  well  as  sure  at  the  muzzle,  and  when  one  can  take  care  of  both 
ends  of  a  gun  it  is  safe  to  let  him  loose  when  there  is  anything  worth  shooting  in 
sight.     And  nov/  we  will  make  for  the  pond." 

They  walked  and  walked  and  walked  until  Jim  began  to  think  that  Tom  had 
lost  his  way.  They  had  travelled  four  miles  and  a  half  when  the  glint  of  water 
was  seen  through  the  trees,  and  a  moment  after  they  come  upon  the  pebbly 
shore  of  a  beautiful  little  lake,  which  Jim  thought  was  the  prettiest  "patch"  of 
water  he  had  ever  seen.  Clear  as  crystal,  calm  as  a  mirror,  with  entrancing 
little  coves,  gem-like  islands  and  a  framework  of  evergreen  pines  and  other 
trees,  it  was  a  place  to  delight  the  soul  of  an  artist. 

"Is  it  all  your  own?"  asked  Jim,  enraptured  by  the  scene,  and  feeling  a 
growing  sense  of  Tom"s  importance. 

"It  is  on  my  timber  lots,  and  I  call  it  my  fishing  pond  because  no  one  else 
comes  here  to  fish,  and  because  I  hate  to  go  where  the  waters  are  whipped  to 
death.  It  has  a  pretty  name— Shinidniquit  Pond.  A  Micmac  chief  gave  it 
that  name  in  honor  of  his  squaw  wife,  of  whom  it  is  said  he  was  very  fond. 

"But  we  must  take  a  canoe  before  we  reach  the  fishing  place.  We  will 
leave  the  gun  and  game  here,  and  Towzer  must  stay  and  take  care  of  them  till 
ws  return." 

Giving  the  dog  his  directions,  which  he  seemed  to  understand  perfectly,  Tom 
led  the  v^ay  to  a  clump  of  low  cedar  bushes,  where  from  under  a  few  protecting 
boards,  he  dislodged  a  small,  birch-bark  canoe,  which  the  next  instant  was 
floating  on  the  water  as  jauntily  as  a  young  duck 

"Get  in,  Jim;  go  softly,  my  boy!  There,  now;  down  on  your  knees  and 
squat  as  if  you  were  in  for  one  of  the  Tanner's  long  prayers.  She's  a  ticklish 
creature,  and  won't  stand  any  fooling  about;  yet  to  anyone  who  knows  how  to 
behave  with  her  she  is  The  Lady  of  the  Lake.'  ' 

"You  kin  trust  me  when  it  comes  to  water  critters,"  said  Jim.  Immedi- 
ately adding,  however,  as  he  took  his  place  and  discovered  how  lightly  the 


T^^^^jB^i  i 


'^^■M'iWJffW 


110 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


canoe  sat  upon  the  pond;  "But  she  is  ths  cranKiest  little  craft  what  ever  kissed 
water." 

•'Steady  there,  now!  while  1  get  in,  and  see  if  you  don't  soon  fall  in  love 
with  her." 

Ta>'':ig  the  wide,  short,  bladt-l  3  ashwood  paddle  with  him,  Tom  got  into 
the  other  end  with  a  step  as  soft  as  that  of  a  rabbit.  The  instant  he  keeled 
Into  position,  the  canoe,  as  if  recognizing  his  presence,  became  as  steady  in  her 


A  CANOE  RIDB. 


poise  as  a  pumpkin  in  a  garden.  The  moment  the  elastic  paddle  struck  the 
water  she  shot  from  the  shore  like  a  fish  playing  on  the  surface.  With  meas- 
ured, noiseless  dips  Tom  plied  the  paddle  until  faster  and  faster  went  the  canoe 
and  louder  and  louder  the  water  sang  under  her  bow. 

The  motion  was  new  to  Jim,  as  was  the  whole  experience,  and  he  was  so 
delighted  he  felt  as  if  he  couldn't  afford  to  speak.  Tom  saw  how  keenly  he  was 
enjoying  it,  and  that  he  might  not  interrupt  his  pleasure  held  his  peace  and 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


111 


devoted  himself  to  making  tiie  canoe  glide  through  the  water  with  all  the  speed 
his  paddle  ■:«.  'Jd  coax  out  of  her. 

Along  the  shore,  among  the  islands,  changing  the  scene  every  moment  and 
leaving  behinu  widening,  shimmering  ripples,  on  they  went,  easily  as  a  dream 
and  stilly  as  a  cloud.  At  length  the  tiny  prow  suddenly  grated  upon  a  narrow 
strip  of  white  sand,  and  Tom's  deep  voice  resounded  strangely  upon  the  silence 
as  he  said:     "Here  we  are!" 

"I  don't  wonder  you  loves  her.  Mister  Tom!"  exclaimed  Jim,  enthusiastic- 
ally.    "An'  I'd  love  her,  too,  ef  1  could  make  her  go  like  you." 

"Try  her.  Jim;  she  knows  when  she's  shipped  sense,  and  you  have  sense 
enough  to  learn  almost  anything  you  put  your  hand  to."  And  he  gave  her  a 
push  that  sent  her  back  into  the  lake  again. 

"Sit  right  where  you  are,  and  take  the  paddle;  she's  double  ended,  you  know 
and  can  go  either  way.  That's  it.  Steady,  now.  Left  hand  atop;  firm  with 
your  right  anu  soft  with  your  left.  Blade  glancing  to  the  water.  Give  her  her 
head.  There,  she  goes!  Straighten  your  wake,  now,  by  steering  with  each 
stroke  you  make.  Bless  my  soul,  Jim!  You  can  paddle  as  well  as  shoot. 
Why,  you  were  born  for  the  woods." 

Following  the  directions  as  quickly  as  they  were  given,  and  already  well 
acquainted  with  the  principal  points  requisite  to  the  handling  of  anything  in  the 
boat  line  and  stimulated  by  Tom's  generous  applause,  Jim  soon  mastered  the 
mysteries  of  canoeing. 

When  they  at  length  landed  again,  Tom  pulled  the  canoe  up  the  beach  and 
said,     "Now,  to  business." 

Having  jointed  and  lined  his  rod.  Jim  was  about  to  hang  a  small,  brilliant, 
scarlet  fly  to  his  leader,  when  Tom  interrupted  him  with:  "That  will  do  for 
roiled,  running  water,  where  the  trout  can't  see  very  well  and  where  they  bite  at 
the  first  thing  that  comes  along,  but  it  will  never  do  for  such  a  place  as  this,  the 
water  is  so  still  and  clear,  you  know.     Let  me  see  your  fly  book." 

Jim  handed  him  the  book.  Looking  it  over  carefully,  Tom  said:  "There 
is  nothing  here  suitable  for  this  place.  Let  me  fit  you  to  one  of  my  own  make 
— made  after  I  had  failed  on  every  other  fly  I  had  ever  tried." 

The  fly  he  fitted  to  Jim's  line  was  white  winged  with  a  grayish  undertint  and 
a  pale  brown  body. 

"There  you  are,  my  hearty!  And  here  we  go.  But  mind  your  feet.  Go 
soft  as  down.  Keep  your  mouth  shut,  and  when  it  comes  to  casting,  throw  your 
line  like  a  shado\v  and  let  it  fall  upon  the  water  as  silently  as  a  snow  flake." 

Taking  the  lead,  and  exemplifying  his  own  advice,  Torn  turned  up  a  mlnia- 


112 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


ISt 


ture  cove  Into  which  a  tiny  rill  of  clear  spring  water  noiselessly  emptied  itself. 
Disengaging  his  fly  from  the  reel  and  lengthening  his  line  by  a  few  feet,  he 
threw  it  out  with  an  expert  underhand  motion.  No  sooner  had  the  fly  touched 
the  water  than  there  was  a  rise  to  it,  a  sudden  flip,  a  shrill,  sharp  sound  from 
the  reel  and  a  swift  run  by  the  fish  There  was  a  short  struggle,  at  the  end  of 
which  Tom  landed  a  two-pound  trout. 

Following  his  example,  Jim  was  also  successful.  After  taking  seven  trout 
weighing  from  one  to  three  pounds  apiece,  they  went  to  another  point  where 
they  were  still  more  successful,  the  sun  having  descended  behind  the  trees  and 
the  shadows  having  brought  with  them  a  gentle  breeze  which  ravored  the  sport. 

Jim  did  fairly  well,  although  he  could  not  compete  with  so  old  a  hand  as 
Tom.     Jim's  creel  was  two-thirds  full,  while  Tom'.^  was  packed  to  the  lid. 

Jim  would  have  continued  till  his  own  was  full,  but  Tom  said:  "If  we  want 
daylight  to  get  back  in  we  must  hurry  away." 

"You  knows  what's  what.  Mister  Tom;  though  it  does  seem  sich  a  pity  to 
disappint  them  trout,  seein'  ez  how  they  is  so  hungry.  P'raps,  hows'mever, 
when  they  comes  to  think  it  over  an'  misses  their  folkses  they'll  think  it  was 
best  for  us  to  go." 

"Sometimes  when  I  am  here  alone  I  knock  up  a  hasty  camp  and  stay  all 
night,  so  as  to  take  advantage  of  the  early  morning  for  fish  and  game,  but  I 
don't  want  the  Tanner  to  think  I  have  /ow-fooled  you  into  that  sort  of  thing, 
you  know." 

"But  I'd  jist  like  that  kind  o'  tom-ioo\in\  an'  p'raps  sometime  you'll  let  me 
come  with  you  an'  stay  it  out,  ef  he  says  1  may." 

"Certainly!  It  would  be  such  fun  to  have  such  a  chap  as  you  to  keep  me 
company." 

They  were  now  gliding  back  over  the  lake  again.  As  soon  as  Towzer  heard 
their  voices  he  began  to  bark  with  a  loudness  that  made  the  still  woods  echo  on 
every  side.  Pulling  the  canoe  up  into  its  place  and  dividing  the  spoils  for  con- 
venient carriage,  the  pair  started  on  the  long  jaunt  out. 

Nine  o'clock  came  to  the  Tannery  cottage,  and  Ruth  was  becoming  restless 
because  Jim  failed  to  appear. 

"Do  you  suppose  anything  has  happened  to  him,  James?"  she  asked, 
anxiously. 

"No,  Ruth;  he's  as  safe  with  Tom  as  he  would  be  if  he  were  upstairs  in  bed 
this  very  minute.  The  delay  in  his  coming  is  a  sure  sign  that  they  have  had 
good  luck.  But  as  he  must  be  tired,  I'll  take  a  turn  up  the  road  to  see  if  I 
can't  meet  him  and  give  him  a  lift." 


.^1, 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


113 


Jim  had  made  half  the  distance  between  Tom's  cottage  and  the  Tanner's 
home  when  he  sat  down  on  a  rock  by  the  roadside  to  rest  himself.  There  being 
no  moon,  it  was  quite  dark,  but  being  so  well  loaded,  Jim  cared  nothing  fn- 
that.  Hearing  approaching  footsteps,  he  rose  to  go  on,  and  presently  heard  the 
Tanner  hailing  with:     "Is  that  you,  Jim?" 

"Yes,  sir,  an'  a  lot  more  besides." 

The  Tanner  insisted  upon  relieving  him  of  his  entire  burden,  and  the  two 
soon  stood  before  Ruth,  who  was  so  glad  to  see  the  boy  she  insisted  upon  kissing 
him  as  heartily  as  if  he  had  been  gone  a  week. 

"Didn't  I  tell  you  he  would  come  home  loaded!"  exclaimed  the  Tanner,  dis- 
playing the  fish  and  game  Tom  had  piled  upon  Jim  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
carrying  capacity. 

"But  what  are  we  to  do  with  it  all?     It  is  Saturday  night." 

"Leave  that  to  me.  We  musn't  go  against  Scripture,  which  says:  'The 
slothful  man  roasteth  not  that  which  he  took  in  hunting,  but  the  substance  of  a 
diligent  man  is  precious." 

And  while  the  Tanner  tackled  the  game,  Jim  tackled  his  supper,  and  it  was 
hard  to  tell  which  was  the  more  industrious  and  successful. 

I 


Tan  Pile  Jim  8 


ip^gS 


Kdpterxin- 


TROUBLES  OF  A  CORKSCREW. 


OR  a  Sunday  morning  Shang  was  in  a 
state  of  mind.  He  had  been  standing 
under  Jim's  window  crowing  with  all  his 
might  for  one  full  hour,  and  yet  there 
was  not  a  sign  of  a  boy  to  be  seen;  and 
that,  too,  when  the  sun,  with  a  face  as 
2d  and  as  swollen  as  if  it  had  been  on  a 
spre^  all  night,  had  risen  far  above  the 
tree-tops.  Shang's  flock,  young  and  old, 
were  clamoring  around  him  for  some- 
thing to  eat,  and  there  was  not  so  much 
as  a  worm  to  be  found,  although  he  had 
almost  scratched  his  toes  off  digging  for 
them. 

Jim  was  awake;  he  heard  Shang. 
He  also  heard  a  commotion  among  the 
flock  and  a  low  admonitory  growl,  which 
advised  him  of  the  fact  that  Towzer.  dis- 
turbed by  Shang's  unseemly  crowing,  was 

after  him,  and  that  if  he  didn't  give  the  cottage  a  wide  berth  he  would  lose  some 

of  his  handsome  hackles. 

Nobody  was  in  a  hurry  to  get  up  Sunday  morning  save  the  preachers, 

who    broke    into   a   cold    sweat   when   they    thought    of    the    congregations 

115 


116 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


they  had  to  face,  and  the  poor  sermons  they  had  to  deliver.     So  Jim  just 
lay  there. 

From  his  pillow  he  could  see  out  of  the  window  across  the  river  and  over 
the  hill-tops  to  the  soft,  light  blue  of  the  sky  far,  far  beyond.  What  a  wonderful 
world  it  was,  to  be  sure!  Could  it  be  possible  that  there  were  people  in  it  who 
had  no  places  to  live  in,  no  food  to  eat  and  nothing  but  rags  to  cover  their 
nakedness?     Jim  thought  he  saw  a  great,  black,  ugly  shadow,  nothwithstanding 

the   light  shining  into  his  room,  and 
he  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  began 
1^  to  wipe  his  eyes. 

"Dcsvn  you  goes!"  said  he,  at  the 
same  time  giving  his  right  foot  such 
a  vigorous  kick  that  he  almost 
knocked  his  great  toe  out  of  joint 
against  the  footboard.  "I'm  here, 
for  sure;  curled  up  in  a  bed  what's  ez 
soft  ez  a  cloud  thafs  hoisted  her 
tops'ls  for  kingdom  come.  Ef  this 
bed,  an'  father  an'  mother,  an' 
Towzer,  an'  Tom,  an'  the  lake  an' 
canoe,  an'  the  fish  an'  all  them 
critters  was  only  Yankee,  an'  had  the 
stars  an'  stripes  over  'em,  I'd  be  Hail 
Columby  an'  hunkidory  from  stem  to 
starn.  But  seein'  ez  how  they  isn't, 
I'm  jist  gonter  stay  in  this  bed  an' 
lay  it  out  a  hull  hour  yit. 

"That  ol'  Peggysis  don't  ketoh  me 
ON  SUNDAY  MORNING.  scrapin'any  hair  of'n  his  back  this 

day,  an  that  ol'  tannery' 11  jist  have  to  keep  its  skins  an'  horrid  smells  to  itself 
all  day.  I  reckon  I  knows  what  Sunday  was  made  for.  My,  my!  Wouldn't  I 
jist  like  to  take  my  rod  an'  skoot  for  that  canoe  an'  lake,  an'  have  a  bustin' 
time  uv  it  all  to  myself?  But  father  has  been  givin'  me  the  Ten  Cumm.and- 
munts  ever  since  I  come  here,  an'  it  seems  ez  ef  there  was  ernough  in  'em 
for  fifty.  Reckon  I'll  have  to  keep  on  keepin'  Sunday,  an'  let  my  hands 
hang  down  kinder  loose  till  Monday  comes  agin.  'Twon't  do  for  a  feller 
to  be  too  happy  all  the  time;  he  might  throw  it  up,  like  I  did  when  I  bust  into 
that  honey  pot  at  the  poor  farm  an'  stuffed  myself  for  to  split." 


'■ifl^jrasr' 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


117 


Presently  Jim's  nose  detected  a  faint  odor  ascending  from  the  kitchen. 
Like  an  aroused  pointer  scenting  game  from  afar,  he  raised  himself  in  bed  and 
began  to  snuff  the  air. 

"Jerusalem.  Jackson!  Ef  it  hain't  them  fish  in  the  fryin'  pan,  an'  the  smell 
uv  'em  jumpin'  out  an'  comin'  up  here  to  say:  'You  lazy  critter,  don't  you 
know  the  stove's  got  ahead  uv  you,  an'  it's  time  you  was  a  shakin'  yourself 
downstairs?'  " 

He  was  now  on  his  feet  slipping  into  his  clothes  with  the  celerity  of  a  rrouse 
running  into  its  hole.  The  stairway  led  to  the  dining-room  where,  to  his  intense 
mortification,  he  found  the  table 
already  set  for  breakfast.  Bursting 
into  the  kitchen  where  Ruth,  having 
cooked  sufficient  trout,  was  frying 
a  squirrel  for  Jim's  especial  benefit, 
he  said:  "What  in  the  name  uv 
pertaties  an'  punkins  did  you  go  for 
to  do  that  for?  Didn't  you  know  I 
wasn't  dead,  but  only  sorter  lazy 
like?" 

"I  thought  I  would  let  you  sleep, 
Jim;  you  were  so  tired  last  night," 
said  Ruth,  smiling  at  his  earnest- 
ness, and  priding  herself  upon  get- 
ting ahead  of  both  Jims  In  the  mat- 
ter of  rising  and  starting  things. 

"But  don't  you  know  last  night 
hain't   this   mornin',  an'    that   you 
hain't  to  tech  that  stove  till  I  lights 
her  pipe?     Fust  thing  you  knows  there'll  be  no  boy  gittin'  up  till  he  gits  down  to 
breakfast." 

"Well,  Shang  made  such  a  racket.  I  had  to  get  up  anyway." 

"Ef  Shang  don't  take  a  reef  in  his  legs  an'  keep  his  mouth  shet  I'll  have  to 
put  a  wooden  stopper  in  his  throat.  It's  agin  the  Cummandmunts  to  be  a 
roosterin'  roun'  Sunday  mornin's  like  a  gull  over  a  dead  shark." 

"Well,  well,  Jim;  you  need  not  worry  about  my  kindling  a  fire  once  In  awhile, 
although  between  you  two  I  shall  have  to  look  sharp  for  a  chance  to  keep  myself 
in  practice." 

"What  has  happened?"  said  the  lamer,  coming  in  at  this  moment  and 


YOU    HAIN  T  TO  TECH  THAT  STOVE. 


•'V  '-rir-.'J/'  .-:'-j 


113 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


looking  around  unable  to  understand  how  things  had  got  so  far  advanced  toward 
the  breakfast  hour  without  his  knowledge. 

Ruth's  eyes  began  to  twinkle  mildly,  but  before  she  could  reply  Jim  inter- 
rupted with:  "Don't  you  think,  she  got  the  breakfast  to  smellin'  clear  up  into 
my  room  erfore  I  know'd  she  was  up,  an'  there  I  was  layin'  jist  like  a  piece  uv 
stickin'  plaster." 

"And  I  did  not  know  that  a  soul  was  up  until  I  heard  you  two  running  on 
like  a  pair  of  politicians  that  had  just  broke  loose,"  said  the  Tanner,  giving  a 
long  yawn  and  rubbing  his  eyes  vigorously,  as  if  not  entirely  satisfied  that  he 
really  was  awake. 

"That  was  because  you  were  kept  up  so  late  last  night  taking  care  of  the  fish 
and  the  game,"  interposed  Ruth,  who  always  unrolled  her  charity  bandage  when- 
ever there  was  the  slightest  occasion  for  its  use.  "But  hadn't  you  both  better 
go  and  wash  your  faces?     Breakfast  is  waiting  for  you." 

"To  be  sure!"  said  the  Tanner,  aimlessly,  hurrying  out  to  the  little  brook  in 
the  back  yard  where  he  preferred  to  do  his  morning  washings  because  the  water 
was  always  so  soft  and  pure.  Jim  went  to  the  sink  where  he  could  appeal  to  the 
looking-glass,  for  those  brown,  curly  locks  that  graced  his  head  were  not  to  be 
left  to  the  happenings  of  negligence.  Besides,  on  Sunday  morning,  he  felt  him- 
self in  duty  bound  to  give  himself  an  extra  amount  of  scrubbing.  By  the  time 
he  was  through  he  looked  as  bright  as  a  bird  that  had  plumed  itself  in  an  April 
shower. 

Both  Jims  were  so  lively  and  cheerful  at  the  breakfast  table,  Ruth  became 
infected  with  their  good  spirits  and  remarked:  "You  did  not  get  up  a  bit  too 
late;  a  soft  bed  is  good  medicine  for  tired  bones.  But  you  must  get  sobered 
down  in  time  for  church." 

"I'll  prepare  the  way  by  quoting  from  Solomon,"  responded  the  Tanner, 
making  a  great  effort  to  look  solemn:  "A  merry  heart  maketh  a  cheerful  coun- 
tenance. He  that  is  merry  hath  a  continual  feast.  A  merry  heart  doeth  good 
like  medicine." 

"I  am  glad  those  texts  are  in  the  Bible,"  added  Ruth,  reflectively.  "And  I 
do  not  see  why  Christians  do  not  think  of  them  oftener.  We  are  all  too  apt  to 
become  long  faced  the  moment  we  begin  to  think  about  religion.  David  says: 
'Light  is  sown  for  the  righteous,  and  gladness  for  the  upright  in  heart.  Rejoice 
in  the  Lord,  ye  righteous,  and  give  thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  his 
holiness.'  "         ;   .,^^v   .  "        ■ 

"Aye,  mother;  there's  the  rub.  If  we  were  only  more  upright  and  more 
righteous  we  should  be  less  sorrowful  and  less  afraid  when  we  remembered  his 


f^^"::^}: 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


119 


holiness,"  remarked  the  Tanner,  humbly  thinking  of  his  own  shortcomings  and 
touching  his  own  heart  with  a  sharp  point. 

"I  reckon  there's  no  downrightness  sneakin'  around  this  table!"  exclaimed 
Jim,  recalling  what  the  Tanner  and  his  wife  had  been  to  him. 

"  'The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked;  who  can 
know  it?'  is  what  Jeremiah  says,"  and  the  Tanner  spoke  as  if  he  had  forgotten 
all  about  Solomon's  merry  tales. 

Jim  had  not  yet  learned  who  Jeremiah  was,  but  if  he  had  been  there  to  say 
anything  against  either  the  Tanner  or  his  wife,  there  would  have  been  trouble 
off-hand.  As  it  was,  the  boy  felt  uneasy;  there  was  something  in  the  deep 
undertone  of  the  thought  that  appealed  to  his  own  experience  and  overawed  him. 
But  when  it  came  to  thinking  of  his  benefaciors  as  being  deceitful  and  wicked, 
it  was  like  the  touch  of  a  hot  iron.  For  a  moment  he  was  silent  and  almost 
tearful,  but  at  length  he  protested:  "  'Tain't  no  use  talkin',  father;  your  heart 
is  jist  like  the.heart  of  Jesus,  an'  Jeremier  may  say  what  he  pleases." 

"Who  can  know  it?"  repeated  the  Tanner,  his  deep  sense  of  unworthiness 
affecting  him  so  strongly  that  he  spoke  almost  unconsciously.  There  was  such 
a  pathetic  seriousness  in  his  tone  that  Jim  felt  himself  powerless  to  reply,  though 
his  own  heart  surged  with  a  miniature  rebellion.  Jim  had  become  quite  a  reader 
of  the  Bible.  It  was  as  fascinating  to  him  as  a  mountain  whose  heights  rose 
above  him,  or  as  a  cave  whose  depths  were  far  below  him,  but  in  the  simplicity 
of  his  ignorance  and  the  ingenuousness  of  his  feelings,  he  now  felt  that  there 
was  something  awry  somewhere,  and  he  shivered  as  if  a  cold  shadow  had  fallen 
upon  the  breakfast  table. 

Ruth  and  the  Tanner  deceitful  and  wicked!  The  boy  was  almost  in  agony. 
The  relish  for  the  nice  food  before  him  was  blunted  instantly,  while,  for  the  sake 
of  appearances,  he  nibbled  here  and  there,  resolute  to  subdue  himself,  and  just 
as  resolute  to  defend  those  who  had  become  dearer  to  him  than  life. 

Pity  his  sensitive  soul  could  not  have  heard  the  soft,  sweet  whispers,  which, 
even  at  that  moment,  were  coming  down  from  Heaven's  great  heart  and  filling 
all  that  room  with  Christ's  tenderest  utterance:  "I  was  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  meat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took 
me  in;  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me;  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me;  I  was  In 
prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me." 

At  prayers  the  Tanner  read  the  fifty-first  psalr*  '  'acing  it  with  the  remark 
that  David  was  the  author,  and  that  it  expressed  .        3nitence  for  his  sins  and 


-■•-). 


■.jyr-'i^ 


..,^..,^...\ 


120 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


shortcomings.     Having  finished  the  reading,  he  added  a  few  comments  by  way 
of  application, 

Jim  had  gone  into  the  careers  of  David  and  Solomon  somewhat,  and  he 
astonished  the  Tanner  and  his  wife  by  saying:  "David  would  a  done  better  ef 
he  hadn't  a  had  sich  a  hankerin'  for  wives;  there's  where  he  spiled  hisself.  No 
wonder  that  son  o'  his'n  went  an'  got  a  thousan'  for  hisself.  I  wouldn't  a  liked 
to  have  been  the  son  uv  neither  on  'em.  It's  ez  much  ez  I  kin  do  io  mind  one 
mother;  a  thousan'  must  a  been  jist  orful.     Some  uv  them  Scripter  fellers  orter 

a  done  a  pile  uv  repentin'.  Guess 
Jeremier  must  a  meant  them  when 
he  talked  about  desperit,  wicked  an' 
deceitful  folks.  What  on  airth  did 
they  want  to  be  so  cussid  for?" 

Jim  wondered  why  the  Tanner 
made  such  stumbling  work  with  his 
prayer  that  morning,  while  Ruth 
wondered  how  her  husband  managed 
to  get  through  as  well  as  he  did. 

When  the  village  bells  tolled  the 
hour  of  worship,  Jim  secretly  wished 
he  could  remain  at  home  and  spend 
the  forenoon  with  the  Tanner's  big, 
old  copy  of  "Captain  Cook's  Voy- 
ages," but  he  was  too  loyal  to  the 
Tanner's  habits  of  church  going  to 
suggest  such  a  thing  to  him,  and  be- 
sides, he  took  great  satisfaction  in 
finding  the  hymns  and  Scripture 
readings  for  Ruth  as  he  sat  by  hel 

JIM   DOESN'T  LIKE  REV.  SOLOMON  MEACHAM.  side   Itt   the    peW. 

So  he  went  to  church  and  took  his  usual  place.  But  when  the  minister 
said  "Let  us  pray,"  and  everybody  responded  by  bowing  the  head,  he  was  in  a 
stubborn  mood,  and  looking  straight  at  the  minister  he  began  a  critical  study  of 
that  worthy's  face  and  attitudes. 

The  Rev.  Solomon  Meacham  was  an  austere  looking  man  with  a  harsh, 
grating  voice,  an  excitable  nature  and  a  restless  manner.  In  prayer  his  coun- 
tenance changed  like  the  face  of  an  India-rubber  doll  when  it  is  well  squeezed, 
so  that  the  effect  was  not  entirely  pleasing.    At  times  his  body  twisted  all  over. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


121 


and  his  hands  doubled  into  unmistakable  fists  which  shook  themselves  in  mid-air 
as  if  menacing  heaven  itself.  He  was  a  visiting  brother  preaching  on  an 
exchange. 

Jim  was  astonished  as  well  as  displeased.  Nor  did  the  sermon  dissipate  the 
clouds.  It  was  a  torrent  of  sound  carrying  along  with  it  a  raging  flood  of  dis- 
connected ideas  couched  in  cant  expressions  and  threadbare  terms  and  Scripture 
phrases  which  had  no  more  connection  with  the  text  than  the  text  had  with  a 
Cotnanche  war  whoop. 

An  occasional  vociferous  response  from  some  excited  worshiper  served  but 
to  increase  the  confusion  and  emphasize  the  emptiness  of  the  preacher's  words. 
Jim  looked  intu  Ruth's  face  expecting  to  see  it  filled  with  disgust  and  indigna- 
tion; instead  it  was  not  only  devout  but  illuminated,  and  when  she  let  slip  a 
sympathetic  amen  at  one  of  the  preacher's  most  boisterous  sentences,  his  head 
shrank  into  his  coat  collar  and  his  face  sought  the  friendly  shelter  of  his  hand. 

Through  it  all  the  Tanner  sat  heroically  reverential,  burled  in  deep  thought, 
which,  happily  for  him,  had  no  connection  with  the  turgid  tide  foaming  from  the 
pulpit.  When  brain  degenerated  into  lungs,  and  Christianity  was  eclipsed  by 
self-confidence,  he  threw  himself  back  on  hidden  resources  and  tried  to  "worship 
God  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 

The  Sabbath  school  met  immediately  after  the  service,  and  Jim  was  in 
attendance.  He  was  a  terror  to  his  teacher,  he  asked  so  many  unexpected 
questions  and  was  so  sturdily  independent  in  his  opinions.  That  day  he  was 
much  worse  than  usual. 

Malvina  Mehitable  McKensie — to  give  her  full,  real  name — was  a  maid  of 
wan  face  and  many  years;  tall,  slight,  spectacled  and  wrinkled.  But  she  was  a 
good  soul,  with  dim,  gray  eyes  that  were  as  big  as  small  Chinese  saucers.  She, 
unfortunately,  had  no  more  knowledge  of  boys  than  a  fish  has  of  birds.  It  was 
her  fixed  opinion  that  all  Yankee  boys  were  heathens  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  and  that  Jim  was  one  of  the  worst  of  his  kind. 

The  lesson  happened  to  be  "The  Call  of  Samuel,"  and  Malvina  dwelt  long 
and  piously  upon  the  boy's  I'jngthy  residence  in  the  Tabernacle. 

Right  in  the  middle  of  her  most  solemn  sentence,  Jim  shocked  her  with  the 
question,  frownjpgly  put:  "Who'd  wanter  live  in  a  meetin'  house  all  the  time? 
It's  ez  much  ez  I  kin  do  to  stan'  it  two  hours  on  a  stretch." 

"You  are  a  very  wicked  boy;  not  fit  for  anything  that  is  good,"  she  replied, 
looking  at  him  as  sourly  as  a  vinegar  bottle. 

"But  I'd  be  wickeder  ef  I  had  to  be  good  an'  stay  poked  up  in  a  meetin' 
house  all  the  time."      ;;  /\  --^-v^     :   ,  :  '     :  • 


122 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  rest  of  the  boys  in  the  class,  seeing  how  confused  their  teacher  was, 
laughed  aloud,  drawing  the  attention  of  the  whole  school  to  their  corner. 

At  the  close  of  the  session  Malvina  marched  straight  up  to  the  superin- 
tendent, and  In  severe  terms  demanded  that  "That  'Yankee  nuisance'  should  be 
removed  from  her  class  forthwith." 

It  was  then  the  superintendent  gave  Jim  to  understand  that  he  would  not  be 
permitted  to  bring  any  of  his  Yankee  tricks  into  that  school  so  long  as  he  was 
the  superintendent.  Mr.  Hezekiah  Lamb  was  a  regular  bell-weather  superin- 
tendent, who  was  constantly  on  the 
tinkle  for  order  and,  consequently,  he 
determined  to  make  short  work  of  the 
tan  pile  upstart. 

Jim  snapped  his  fingers  at  him,  or, 
in  other  words,  showed  some  very 
prominent  horns',  for  he  was  not  a  boy 
to  be  made  good  by  threats. 

In  due  time  the  Tanner  was  informed 
of  Jim's  misconduct,  but  on  pushing  his 
inquiries,  as  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
doing,  where  the  characters  of  others 
were  concerned,  he  discovered  the  real 
burden  of  the  offense.  The  result  was 
he  smiled  and  said  nothing. 

Mr.  James  Payzant  came  near  being 
disciplined  by  the  rest  of  the  church 
after  the  following  week-night  prayer 
meeting  for  abetting  disorder  in  the 
Sabbath  school. 

"THAT  YANKEE  NUISANCE."  On    the   succeedlng    Sabbath   Jim 

stayed  at  home.  "I'll  be  a  Sunday  school  all  by  myself,"  said  he,  "an'  a 
Yankee  one  at  that.  I  reckon  God  an'  I  kin  git  along  together  'thout  havin' 
any  fuss," 

But  a  shadow  of  the  old,  forsaken  feeling  fell  overv  his  heart,  and 
the  world  lost  part  of  its  brightness,  as  he  recalled  the  contemptuous 
manner  in  which  Malvina  and  the  superintendent  had  spoken  to  him  that 
Sunday. 

He  went  up  to  his  room,  pulled  out  his  little,  battered  Testament,  and  while 
aimlessly  turning  over  its  leaves,  caught  sight  of  the  words,  "I, go  a  fishing." 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


123 


His  attention  was  riveted,  and  he  re;d  the  story  through.  It  was  like  sunlight 
on  flower  seeds. 

"Jesus  is  the  boss  for  me,"  he  exclaimed,  softly,  his  trouble  melting  rapidly 
away.  "He'd  a  let  me  hung  on  ef  I  did  come  from  a  poor  farm  an'  was  dug 
outen  a  tan  pile." 

Ruth  and  the  Tanner  missed  him  from  church  and  school,  and  when  they 
returned  found  him  setting  the  table  for  dinner.  There  was  that  in  his  eyes 
which  made  them  forbear  questioning.  He  was  so  grateful  for  their  silence  that 
he  voluntarily  followed  them  to  the  afternoon  service,  through  which  he  sat  as 
staid  as  a  deacon. 

The  superintendent  sat  in  a  corner  pe^v,  whence  he  began  to  study  Jim's 
face.  Presently  the  tears  blinded  his  sight  because  of  the  sadness  in  Jim's 
young  eyes.  Church  was  no  sooner  over. than  he  went  to  Jim  and  begged  his 
pardon  for  his  own  harshness,  and  urged  him  to  return  to  the  school.  Thence- 
forth nothing  could  keep  the  boy  away.  Malvina  lost  her  horror  of  him,  not- 
withstanding the  funny  questions  he  asked. 

The  Tanner,  observing  the  course  of  events,  nodded  his  head  and  said:  "He's 
not  lead,  but  cork,  and  he'll  float  in  spite  of  everythiPt.' 


*»"  :f-' ,  " 


i\ 


\ 


r- 


black  in  i 
dark.     \ 

There 
uniform  o 
or  never  ] 

So  ea 


^^^8f 


A  BLACK-MOUTH  EPIDEMIC. 

S  THE  season  advanced  the  Black- 
Mouth  distemper  made  its  appearance, 
and,  in  fact,  became  universal.  There 
were  no  deaths  from  it;  no  sickness 
even.  But  the  younger  and  more  sen- 
sitive portion  of  the  population  took 
good  care  not  to  open  their  mouths  too 
widely  while  the  epidemic  lasted  lest 
unromantic  revelations  should  ensue. 

To  explain:  The  blueberries  were 
ripening,  and  "huckleberry"  parties, 
pies,  puddings,  dumplings,  "blankets" 
"grunts"  and  sauces  were  in  order. 
Blue  as  were  the  outside  of  the  berries, 
rivalling  even  the  clear  sky  in  depth  of 
azure,  and  white  and  innocent  as  were 
their  insides,  they  turned  to  a  purplish 

black  in  the  cooking,  so  that  the  mouth  of  every  eater  was  stained  tenaciously 

dark. 

There  was  but  one  preventive,  and  that  was  to  3at  the  berry  in  its  native 

uniform  of  blue,  but  as  this  was  too  severe  a  form  of  self-denial,  it  was  seldom 

or  never  put  into  practice. 

So  easy  was  it  to  indulge  the  appetite,  even  the  preachers  sometimes  forgot 

125 


J»      ,•    ^    V 


»-C"»t' 


V 


126 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


themselves  of  a  Sunday  morning,  and  thus  the  Black- Mouth  made  its  appear- 
ance in  the  pulpit,  to  the  no  small  amusement  of  the  more  mischievous  and  the 
scandal  of  the  more  serious  ones  of  the  congregation.  Occasionally  a  whole 
choir  succumbed  to  the  epidemic,  and  then  the  effect  during  singing  time  was 
lamentable  indeed.  To  guard  against  unseemly  results,  the  vestry  of  the 
Episcopal  church  passed  a  resolution  that  no  member  of  their  choir  should  eat 
cooked  "huckleberries"  from  Friday  to  Sunday  night.  And  they  were  right,  for 
the  Black-Mouth  in  church,  especially  among  those  who  are  at  all  conspicuous, 
is  entirely  out  of  place. 

Jim  was  delighted  with  the  berries,  and,  disregarding  all  questions  of  mere 
looks,  blacked  his  mouth  to  his  heart's  content.  Having  learned  their  growing 
grounds,  he  gave  Ruth  all  she  could  do  to  take  care  of  the  supplies  he  brought 
In.  The  Tanner  and  his  wife  had  no  objection  to  the  disease,  and  Jim,  not- 
withstanding the  somber  hue  of  his  teeth,  lips  and  tongue,  never  took  the 
precaution  to  keep  his  mouth  shut  when  he  had  occasion  to  laugh,  as  was  the 
habit  of  those  who  were  at  all  particular  about  their  appearance. 

Being  enterprising,  he  was  not  content  with  picking  from  the  nearer  barrens 
where  the  berries  grew,  but  was  constantly  extending  his  search  in  new  direc- 
tions. One  day  he  pierced  a  belt  of  woods  and  came  upon  an  upland  opening 
which,  having  been  burnt  over  two  yerrs  before,  was  literally  blue — the  bushes 
being  short  and  bunchy  and  the  berries  clustering  and  large.  In  an  incredibly 
short  time  he  had  picked  ten  quarts,  and  when  he  reached  home  Ruth  went 
into  ecstacies  over  them,  they  were  so  large  and  luscious. 

"When  I  fust  seed  'em,"  said  Jim,  "I  was  sure  the  sky  had  upsot  itself  an' 
poured  its  blue  all  over  the  ground,  but  when  I  begun  to  pick  'em,  I  felt  ez  ef  1 
was  a  pickin'  up  angel's  eyes,  they  was  so  blue,  an'  round,  an'  big,  an'  soft  an' 
handsome."  And  he  added,  with  a  warmth  that  sent  a  responsive  glow  through 
Ruth's  heart:  "When  both  my  baskits  was  plum  full,  they  sot  me  to  thinkin' 
uv  your  eyes,  an'  then  I  cut  for  home  ez  fast  ez  I  could  streak  it." 

"My  eyes  are  getting  old,  Jim;  but  I  know  what  you  mean.  And  the  older 
I  grow  the  greater  is  the  reason  why  they  should  look  kindly  upon  everybody, 
but  especially  upon  the  dear  children  who  are  to  take  the  places  of  those  who 
are  ripening  for  eternity.  Your  own  eyes  are  almost  as  blue  as  the  sky;  God 
grant  they  may  always  be  as  pure  and  true  as  they  are  now." 

Her  words  fell  like  a  benediction,  but  the  thought  of  ever  losing  her  brought 
a  great  lump  into  his  throat.  Mastering  himself,  and  brightening  into  a  smile, 
he  answered:     "You're   the  kind  o'    huckleberry  what' 11   never  turn  black, 

mother.'  :..  .l.  ^^-^  ■■'■y:.<  .:-''^:    ,  .:.-,--.,..;,        .■'■     X^  :■•.      ..'./.-:: :-:.-:y-:^: 


\l- 


ir 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


127 


Ruth  emptied  the  berries— one  basket  Into  a  chopping  tray  and  the  other 
Into  a  great,  flaring  mili<  pan. 

"They  are  all  alike  clear  to  the  bottom,"  she  observed,  admiringly,  "and  so 
free  from  leaves  and  sticks  they  will  hardly  need  picking  over  again.  I  wish  I 
had  a  barrel  full  of  them." 

"Does  you  mean  a  /;////  barrel  uv  *em!"  he  exclaimed,  in  astonishment, 
never  having  known  her  to  be  so  covetous  before. 

"Why,  yes!  When  my  other  Jim  was  alive  and  a  boy,  we  put  up  a  barrel 
full  every  year." 

"How'd  you  do  it?" 

"We  kept  an  old  molasses  barrel  for  that  purpose.  One  head  was  knocked 
out,  the  barrel  filled  up  with  berries,  and  New  Orleans  molasses  was  then  poured 
over  them  until  they  were  covered." 

"My  goodness!  An'  didn't  your  other  Jim  git  a  lick  at  'em  wunst  In  awhile, 
kinder  on  the  sly  like?" 

"Yes,  but  not  on  the  sly;  because  he  knew  he  was  at  liberty  to  get  at  them 
at  any  reasonable  time." 

"An'  was  they  good?" 

"Most  excellent  for  pies  and  puddings,  and  also  for  drinks  when  taken  in  hot 
water  with  a  little  sugar  mixed  in.  When  the  warm  days  of  spring  came  we 
poured  in  water  with  what  was  left,  and  so  had  the  best  of  vinegar  for  the  rest 
of  the  year. 

"An'  have  you  got  that  ol'  barrel  anywhere?' 

"Not  that  one.  but  there  is  another  just  like  it,"  and  Ruth  looked  as  sly  as 
a  cat  hunting  after  a  mouse. 

"Where  is  it?" 

"Down  cellar." 

"An'  don't  you  reckon  what  that  Jim  done,  this  un  kin  do,  too?" 

"Indeed  I  do!" 

And  the  barrel  was  filled  before  Saturday  night  with  berries,  sweetly  swim- 
ming in  floods  of  molasses,  getting  ready  for  Christmas  holidays  and  the  nights 
of  the  long  winter  season. 

Jim  told  Vi  of  the  wonders  of  the  new  huckleberry  patch,  and  as  she 
couldn't  keep  the  news  to  herself,  the  next  thing  he  knew  the  boys  and  girls 
made  up  a  big  huckleberry  party  and  appointed  him  to  lead  them  to  the  fields 
of  blue. 

The  huckleberry  was  a  sort  of  festival  season  with  the  young  folks,  and  it 
was  a  merry  party  that  assembled  at  the  Tanner's  with  baskets,  pails  and  dinners 


1 


128 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


ready  for  an  early  morning  start  and  a  whole  day  on  the  barrens.  The  sky  was 
cloudless  and  warm.  A  dreamy,  yellow  haze  covered  the  woods  and  hills,  soft- 
ening the  blue  and  purple  tints  of  the  more  distant  landscape  Into  mellow 
Indistinctness. 

The  rural  districts  have  their  disadvantages  at  which  the  high-nosed  city 
snob  may  snuff  and  drivel  when  he  airs  his  nothingness  in  feeble  jokes  about 
country  people  and  bucolic  manners,  but  the  compensnMons  are  altogether  In 
excess  of  the  privations.  The  undimmed  light,  the  untainted  air,  the  crystal 
streams,  the  sweet-scented  fields,  the  balmy  woods,  the  glorious  hills  and  the 
homely  plenty  and  joyous  liberty  of  the  homesteads  are  priceless  blessings,  fresh 
and  fragrant  from  the  hand  of  God. 

Precious  are  the  memories  of  childhood  days  spent  where  God  has  spread 
the  skirts  of  his  omnipotence  and  lavished  the  charms  of  nature  In  all  their 
purity  and  simplicity! 

And  yet  we  are  shadowed  with  the  thought  of  multitudes  of  children  who 
have  to  spend  the  days  of  youth  almost  In  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
Elizabeth  Browning's  words  haunt  us  like  a  wail  from  the  lost,  and  we  must  beg 
the  reader  to  ponder  them: 

Do  you  hear  the  children  weeping,  O  my  brothers, 

Ere  the  sorrow  comes  with  years? 
They  are  leaning  their  young  heads  against  their  mothers. 

And  that  cannot  stop  their  tears. 
The  young  lambs  are  bleating  in  the  meadows; 
The  young  birds  are  chirping  in  their  nest; 
The  young  fawns  are  playing  with  the  shadows; 
The  young  flowers  are  blowing  to  ..^ard  the  west— 
But  the  young,  young  children,  O  my  brothers, 

They  are  weeping  bitterly  I 
They  are  weeping  in  the  playtime  of  the  others 

In  the  country  of  the  free. 

Blessing — ten  thousand,  thousand  blessings  upon  the  heads  of  promoters  of 
fresh  air  benevolence,  and  upon  the  daily  press  for  the  potent  aid  It  has  rendered, 
and  upon  the  country  people  who  have  opened  their  doors  to  the  pale  faces  of 
the  tenement  house,  and  especially  upon  the  multitudes  of  children — boys  and 
girls — who.  through  their  means,  have  had  a  few  weeks  outing  in  the  country! 

Skipping  like  lambs  and  chattering  like  squirrels,  the  huckleberry  procession 
went  over  the  hills  and  through  the  pine-scented  woods.  Reaching  the  great 
huckleberry  patch,  it  Immediately  scattered  over  the  barrens  in  little  groups, 
which  began  to  rifle  the  heavily  laden  bushes  of  their  blue  spikes  and  clusters. 

Finding  a  spot  under  the  shadow  of  a  long,  low,  granite  ledge,  where  the 
bushes  were  fairly  weighted  down  to  earth,  Jim  called  to  Vi  to  share  in  his 


I  r 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


139 


discovery.  Nor  did  she  hesitate  to  hasten  to  his  side,  though  merry  smiles 
and  quips  were  Indulged  at  her  expense  by  the  more  mischievous  of  her  com- 
panions. 

So  plentiful  were  the  berries  and  so  cushion-like  the  thick  moss  beneath 
them,  they  sat  down  and  picked  at  their  ease.  Vl's  dainty,  little  feet  were  In 
full  view  encased  in  a  substantial  pair  of  shoes  that  had  the  appearance  of  being 
almost  new. 

Happening  to  glance  at  them,  Jim  suddenly  exclaimed  with  great  energy: 
"Why,  them's  tbem  shoesl" 


"WHY,  THEM'S  THEM  SHOES!" 

VI  looked  down  at  her  feet  with  as  much  astonishment  as  if  they  had 
dropped  Into  Cinderella's  slippers  without  her  knowledge,  but  seeing  that  nothing 
had  happened  to  them,  she  asked:  "What  is  there  about  the  shoes  that  is  so 
surprising?"  • 

"They're  made  outen  the  sealskin  what  I  tanned  i  lyself." 

"You  did?"  with  an  inflection  that  rose  and  vanished  like  a  sound  that  had 
taken  wings. 

"I  did,  for  sure,  an'  I  almost  broke  ol'  Peggysis'  back  scrapin'  an'  rubbin 
that  leather  to  make  it  soft  an' nice." 

This  was  the  first  she  had  heard  of  Pegasus,  and  knowing  nothing  of  either 

TanPlleJim9  -  f 


-  '-..-Vf^''-'*^^ 


130 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


the  mythical  or  the  tannery  steed,  she  took  refuge  in  the  olainer  side  of  his 
words,  and  asked:    "What  did  you  do  that  for?" 

•'Why,  didn't  I  know  that  the  leather  was  for  your  shoes?" 

••How  did  you  find  that  out?  I  should  think  you  would  have  enough  to  do 
to  tan  the  leather  without  bothering  yourself  about  the  peoole  who  are  to  wear 
it  out?" 

"Father  told  me.  Don't  you  know  we  talk  together,  as  well  as  work 
together?  I  learns  lots  an'  lots  erbout  the  skins  what  comes  to  be  tanned. 
That  sealskin  was  such  a  funny  little  dodger  I  up  an'  axed  all  erbout  it.  When 
I  found  it  was  for  you,  I  jist  laid  myself  out  on  it." 

"The  shoes  are  so  easy  and  soft  to  my  feet  I  hardly  know  I  have  them  on. 
I'm  ever  so  much  obliged." 

••or  Peggysis  an'  me  is  more'n  paid,  seein'  ez  how  you  is  satisfied." 

"But  who  is  Peggysis?    I  didn't  know  there  was'such  a  person  in  Liverpool." 

"Oh,  he's  the  wooden  hoss  what  I  lays  the  skins  on  when  I  wants  to  wollop 
an'  scrape  'em!" 

"What  a  funny  idea!     But  why  did  you  call  a  bench  such  a  queer  name?" 

"Oh,  father  did  the  naming;  he's  allers  doin'  such  funny  things,  you  know." 

"Mr.  Payzant  is  a  dear,  blessed  old  man,  and  when  he  does  a  thing  there  is 
generally  a  good  reason  for  it,"  and  Vi  spoke  with  a  deal  of  warmth,  for  she 
ioved  the  Tanner,  who,  when  she  was  but  a  little  thing,  used  to  take  her  on  hi?, 
knees  and  tell  her  the  quaintest  of  stories  by  the  hour. 

••An'  does  you  love  mother,  too?"  asked  Jim.  always  grateful  for  every  good 
word  spoken  about  the  Tanner  and  his  wife. 

••Indeed  I  do!  What  could  we  do  without  Aunt  Well-Well?  Everybody 
loves  her." 

'•When  they  gits  to  heaven  Jesus' 11  think  so  much  uv  'em  he'll  want  'em 
close  by  him  all  the  time.  But  I  hain't  told  you  how  the  hoss  got  his  name." 
And  he  went  on  in  the  most  comical  manner  telling  Ihe  story  of  the  poetry 
and  the  adventures  of  Peggysis  in  Ruth's  kitchen.  He  so  convulsed  Vi  that 
she  had  to  stop  nicking  berries  to  laugh. 

Toward  noon  Jim  said:  ••My  shadder  is  gitting  so  short  an'  chunky,  it  must 
be  nigh  onto  twelve  o'clock." 

••I'm  so  hungry,  it  must  be  dinner  time.  You  are  captain  to-day;  suppose 
you  tell  the  pickers  it  is  timft  to  eat." 

Instantly  Jim's  clear  voice  rang  over  tho  barrens  announcing  the  dinner 
hour.  In  a  few  moments  the  happy  boys  and  girls  were  gathered  around  the 
rock,  where,  the  moss  being  abundant   and   soft,   they  seated   themselves 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


131 


In   little    groups    about    their    lunch    baskets    preparatory    to    eating    their 
dinners. 

Jim  would  have  been  alone  had  not  Vi,  knowing  that  there  was  a  tendency 
on  the  part  of  some  to  avoid  too  close  connection  with  him,  taken  her  seat  by 
his  side.  "I  have  no  one  to  eat  with  me,"  said  she,  "and  if  you  have  no  objec- 
tion we  will  eat  together." 

Understanding  her  motive,  though  it  was  so  ingeniously  veiled,  he  replied: 
"Ef  the  queen  uv  the  huckleberry  patch  is  gonter  eat  with  this  chap  I  reckon 
he'll  have  to  let  her  steer  his  baskit  for  the  dinner  table." 

Ruth  had  filled  his  basket  with  the  best  her  pantry  afforded,  while  Vl's 
mother,  not  believing  in  stuffed  children,  alive  or  dead,  had  been  more  than 
prudent  in  both  the  quantity  and  the 
variety  of  her  daughter's  huckle- 
berry lunch. 

As  VI  spread  the  contents  of  Jim's 
basket  upon  the  napery  beside  her 
own,  she  laughingly  declared:  "I 
have  made  my  fortune  by  inviting 
myself  to  your  dinner,  Jim." 

"And  mine,  too;  my  everlastin' 
huckleberry  fortune!"  he  promptly 
responded  with    instinctive  gallantry. 

While  they  were  eating  and  merrily  ^^^ 
conversing  together,  a  big  boy,  a  head 
taller  than  Jim,  and  the  bully  of  the 
Liverpool  play  grounds,  coarsely  call- 
ed: "How  are  you  getting  along, 
Tan  Pile?" 

Jim  flushed  hotly  at  the  cruel  allusion,  and  a  fierce  flame  of  wrath  shot 
through  his  heart,  but  remembering  Tom  Kenton's  remarks  about  getting  mad, 
he  made  no  reply.  Vi  was  so  indignant  her  anger  effectually  prevented  any 
mortification  she  might  otherwise  have  experienced  from  the  disdainful  refer- 
ence to  Jim's  first  appearance  in  the  village. 

"Why  don't  you  answer  me,  you  Yankee,  tan  pile  beggar?"  shouted  the  bully, 
enraged  at  Jim's  silence. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  in  Jim's  direction,  but  beyond  shutting  his  teeth 
together  and  clinching  his  hands  involuntarily,  he  paid  no  outward  attention  to 
the  brutal  insult. 


JIM  GETS  HIT  WITH  HUCKLEBEBHY  PIE. 


^ 


132 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  next  instant  Bill  Bryden  took  unerring  aim  and  threw  plump  into  Jim's 
face  a  piece  of  berry  pie,  which  almost  blinded  him  with  its  black  juice,  and 
stained  his  clothes  badly. 

Rising  and  wiping  the  stains  from  his  face,  Jim,  unable  to  control  himself 
any  longer,  his  wrath  being  increased  by  the  laughter  of  the  more  thoughtless 
brvs  and  girls  in  the  company,  said,  in  a  low  voice:  "Bill,  ef  you  wants  to  git 
your  hide  tanned,  an'  will  come  erway  frum  the  gals,  I'll  accommerdate  you;  for 
you  is  the  meanest,  doggondest,  sneakenest  Bluenose  in  all  Liverpool!" 

It  needed  no  more!     Bill  rushed  upon  him  furiously.     But  not  for  nothing 

had  Jim  been  in  the  forecastle  of  a  fishing 
schooner.  He  had  learned  boxing  to  per- 
fection, and  he  parried  Bill's  blows  with  a 
skill  that  only  served  to  enrage  the  bully. 
Seeing  that  his  assailant  would  not  take 
warning  from  his  failure  to  make  his  blows 
effective,  Jim  took  the  aggressive  and 
planted  his  blows  in  such  swift  succession 
upon  Bill's  eyes  and  nose  that  he  began 
to  stagger.  Bill  had  a  chum  of  his  own 
age  and  size  who,  seeing  how  t!  ings  were 
going,  attempted  to  join  in  the  attack 
on  Jim. 

Vi  spran^j  in  between  Jim  and  the  two 
boys,  and  facing  the  assailants,  cried: 
"Touch  him  again,  if  you  dare,  and  I'll 
have  my  father  arrest  both  of  you!" 

Meanwhile  the  other  girls  were  crying 
"Shame,  shame!"  and  the  rest  of  the  boys, 
determined  to  see  fair  play,  crowded  around 
Jim  ready  to  engage  in  his  defense.  Vi's  face  was  as  white  as  the  napkin  she 
held  in  her  hand,  and  she  stood  to  her  place  as  if  she  had  been  turned  into  marble. 
Bill  was  conquered  for  once  in  his  life,  and  crying  with  the  pain  of  his 
deserved  punishment,  covered  with  blood  from  his  nose  and  with  both  eyeo  fast 
closing,  he  started  home  accompanied  by  his  humbled  chum. 

"Now  we  can  finish  our  dinner,"  said  Jim  to  his  companions.  And  his 
manner  was  so  composed,  and  he  had  so  effectually  earned  the  leadership,  that 
all  returned  to  their  luncheon  and  after  that  to  the  completion  of  the  filling  of 
their  baskets. 


RESULT  OF  FOKECASTLE  TRAINING. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


133 


When  Jim  reached  home  he  found  that  he  had  punished  Bill  more  than  he 
had  intended.  Both  eyes  were  closed  and  his  nose  severely  skinned.  Bill's 
father  had  been  to  the  Squire's  to  obtain  a  warrant  for  Jim's  arrest.  But  after 
questioning  the  two  boys,  the  Squire  said  Jim  was  the  proper  one  to  swear  out  a 
warrant,  and  if  application  should  be  made  for  one  it  would  be  granted  with 
pleasure.  If  they  knew  when  they  were  well  off  they  would  let  the  matter  drop. 
Besides,  it  was  time  that  those  who  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  persecuting  Jim  had 
learned  a  lesson,  and  he  was  glad  that  the 
boy  had  given  them  one. 

The  Tanner  smiled  grimly  at  the 
Squire's  decision,  and  when  he  met  Jim 
and  learned  his  side  of  the  case  and  had 
it  confirmed  by  those  who  had  witnessed 
the  whole  affair,  he  said:  "Jim,  I  don't 
want  you  to  be  a  fighting  boy,  but  when- 
ever you  are  attacked  in  that  way  be  sure 
you  put  in  your  best  Yankee  licks." 

"James,  James!"  remonstrated  Ruth 
mildly,  "can  you  pray  over  that?" 

"Not  exactly,"  was  the  prompt  reply, 
"but  I  can  easily  pray  around  it." 

"Well,  Well!      I'm  downright  glad  it 
wasn't  Jim's  eyes  that  got  blacked."  said 
Ruth,  smoothing  the  wrinkles  out  of  the 
corner  of  her  apron,  she,  in  her  nervousness,  having  crumpled  it  into  a  multi- 
tude of  creases. 

A'ter  that  the  boys  were  careful  how  they  meddled  with  the  tanner  boy. 
And  as  Vi  was  the  favorite  of  the  village,  her  interposition  in  his  behalf  gave 
him  a  standing  with  the  girls  he  had  not  before  possessed. 

But  the  epithet  "Tan  pile  beggar"  pierced  him  so  deeply  he  became  more 
retiring  than  ever,  and  for  several  days,  greatly  to  the  distress  of  the  Tanner  and 
Ruth,  he  had  an  expression  upon  his  face  and  a  restlessness  of  manner  which 
showed  that  he  was  having  a  big  fight  inside. 


BILL  AND  HIS  CHUM  START  FO  HOME. 


:':W*P?P??^W' 


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'■■4 


l\6.Pterx5 


AN  INVITATION  OUT. 

OT  long  after  the  huckleberry  battle  the 
Tanner  came  into  the  tannery,  where  Jim 
was  making  the  hair  fly  from  Peggysis' 
back,  and  handed  him  a  letter  addressed  in 
a  full,  round  hand  to  James  Mu  Payzant. 
It  was  the  first  letter  he  had  ever  received, 
and  for  a  moment  he  held  it  up  and  scanned 
the  name,  thinking  there  was  some  mistake 
about  the  matter.  The  Tanner  recognized 
the  writing  from  the  first,  and  stood  looking 
on  with  a  qui.-^zical  smile  while  the  boy  read 
the  contents,  which  were  as  follows: 

Shoes'  Best,  Milton,  N.  S. 
My  Deab  Jim:  Come  up  Friday  afternoon; 
I  want  to  have  a  boxing  match  with  you. 
And  do  not  fail  to  bring  up  a  pair  of  your  old 
shoes  for  my  shoe  museum;  must  have  them 
if  I  have  to  buy  you  a  new  pair.  Bring  Tow- 
zer.  Come  to  supper;  we  are  to  have  a  little  party  in  your  honor.  Do  not  disap- 
point us.    Glad  you  licked  that  fellow!    Your  fast  friend,  ,        Tom  Kenton. 

Jim  handed  the  note  to  the  Tanner,  and,  though  there  was  a  smile  upon  his 
face,  there  was  a  quiver  in  his  voice,  as  he  said:  "May  I  go?  Mister  Tom 
likes  me  if  I  did  come  from  a  tan  pile." 

Now,  the  Tanner  had  seen  Tom,  and  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  had  given 

135 


136 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


him  a  lengthy  account  of  the  huckleberry  trouble.  Tom  was  no  fool  at  boxing, 
and  he  was  pleased  to  learn  that  Jim  knew  enough  about  the  art  to  defend  him- 
self when  it  became  necessary  so  to  do. 

"Go!"  exclaimea  the  Tanner,  almost  vehemently,  touched  by  the  boy's 
tone.  "Why,  of  course!  Tom  is  a  gentleman,  every  inch  of  him,  and  when- 
ever you  are  with  him,  he  has  another  for  company,  and  what  is  better  still,  he 
knows  it.  Tom  is  not  only  a  royal  good  fellow;  he  is  also  a  splendid  boxer,  and 
having  heard  of  your  huckleberry  fuss  and  of  the  feelings  of  some  of  the  boys 
here,  he  wants  to  give  you  a  point  or  two.  You  must  take  your  old  shoes  with 
you.  That  is  a  queer  freak  of  his;  queerest  shoe  business  I  ever  heard  of,  but 
there  is  a  good  deal  of  poetry  at  the  bottom  of  it." 

"But  these  are  the  wustest  shoes  I've  got,"  replied  Jim,  looking  down  at  his 
feet,  "an'  there  isn't  a  single  leak  in  'em  yit." 

"Yet  the  toes  are  pretty  well  stubbed  out,  the  soles  are  getting  thin  and  the 
counters  don't  hold  themselves  up  as  much  as  they  ought  to,"  and  the  Tanner, 
surveying  them  critically,  determined  that  the  shoes  should  go  to  "Shoes'  Rest" 
whether  they  were  tired  or  not. 

"I'll  have  to  wear  my  Sunday  shoes  common,  ef  I  takes  these  to  Tom." 

"What  of  that?  It's  time  those  Sunday  shoes  were  set  to  doing  week's 
work.  There's  lots  of  leather  lying  around  this  tannery.  You  take  those  shoes 
to  Tom,  and  I'll  sej\d  a  cutting  from  the  best  calfskin  and  solehide  the  tannery 
affords  to  Bob  Buskirk's  father  and  give  him  orders  to  fit  you  out  with  a  pair  of 
top  boots  made  in  his  best  style." 

"My  j'iminy!"  exclaimed  Jim,  succumbing  to  the  temptation  without  further 
resistance. 

"And  they  shall  be  made  on  a  pair  of  Yankee  lasts,  and  fitted  to  your  feet 
like  the  skin  to  your  toes." 

"I  reckon  these  shoes' 11  have  to  skip." 

"Yes,  to  every  pair  of  shoes  there  must  be  a  last  slip  and  a  last  skip;  though 
they  were  made  on  lasts  they  can't  last  forever,  you  know,"  and  the  Tanner 
benignly  smiled  over  his  skips  of  the  tongue,  while  Jim  laughed  responsively,  as 
he  always  did,  whenever  the  Tanner  made  even  the  faintest  attempt  at  anything 
funny.  •  -     . 

On  Friday  morning  Jim  got  up  extra  early;  got  up  even  before  Shang  had 
descended  from  his  roost,  so  that  he  might  finish  his  day's  work  during  the  fore- 
noon hours,  for  he  madfe  conscience  of  keeping  his  part  of  the  tanning  processes 
ahead  of  those  which  fell  to  the  Tanner's  share. 

As  he  was  going  out  of  the  cottage  yard  after  dinner  with  his  old  shoes 


i^L 


■•V'-  ■' 


■''^'  7*-' ^r"*  ' V':-'."'  ^'- r'^^'J-r^'i '"y"*' 


->■■-■■ 

•  / 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


137 


In  his  hand,  the  Tanner  called  to  hiin:     "Stand  to  Tom  when  it  comes  to  the 
boxing." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir!"  said  Jim,  promptly  responding  sailor  fashion,  touching  his 
cap  with  a  good-bye  salute  and  leaving  the  gate  with  a  strong,  warm  heart  beat- 
ing under  his  vest. 

"How  are  you.  Huckleberry  Jim?"  exclaimed  Tom,  when  he  opened  his 
cottage  door  and  found  his  young  friend  standing  there  and  smiling  as  if  no  cloud 
of  trouble  had  ever  darkened  his  path. 

"What  does  you  call  me  that  for?  I've  got  more  names  now  than  I  kin 
back  rr-nd." 

J,  don't  you  know  everybody  is  calling  you  Huckleberry  Jim  because  of 
your  -ickleberry  battle?  Served  the  scamp  right!  Come  in  and  tell  me  all 
about  it.  Brcught  those  shoes,  have  you?  Here,  let  me  take  them.  I'm 
going  to  label  them  right  away."  And,  as  if  he  were  in  a  great  hurry,  he  sat 
down  and  after  writing  Huckleberry  Jim  on  a  label  he  covered  the  label  with 
mucilage  and  affixed  it  to  the  heei  of  the  right  shoe. 

"There,"  said  he,  contemplating  the  shoes  with. immense  satisfaction,  "that 
looks  well,  doesn't  it?  Now,  tell  me  all  about  it — that  battle,  I  mean — I  want 
to  get  it  from  headquarters." 

Nor  would  he  permit  Jim  to  omit  a  single  detail,  for  where  the  boy  hesitated 
through  modesty,  Tom  pressed  him  with  questions  from  which  there  was  no  escape. 

At  the  close  of  the  account  he  said,  with  both  eyes  blinking  like  the  eyes  of 
an  owl:  "I'm  glad  you  go  to  Sunday  school,  my  boy,  but  I  am  more  than  glad 
to  know  that  you  can  box.  The  Sunday  school  will  keep  you  from  offending 
others,  but  the  boxing  won't  hinder  you  from  defending  yourself  when  it's  your 
solemn  duty  to  do  so.  I  sing  Sunday  school  songs  myself,  but  I  want  it  under- 
stood that  that  doesn't  give  anybody  a  right  to  presume  too  much  upon  my 
temper, for,  like  some  other  steel  springs,  I'm  apt  to  bounce  up  when  I'm  jostled 
too  hard." 

Jim  thought  of  pale  Malvina  Mehitable  McKenzie  and  wondered  what  she 
would  say  to  that  sort  of  talk,  and  then  he  looked  at  Tom's  ruddy,  open  face  and 
as  good  as  confessed  to  himself  that  he  should  like  to  have  him  for  his  Sabbath 
school  teacher. 

"Mind  you,"  continued  Tom,  "I  wouldn't  have  you  quarrelsome,  nor  quick 
tempered,  even;  it's  your  smallest  cur  that  is  the  most  quarrelsome  and  touchy, 
but  I  would  have  you  like  Towzer,  who  is  able  to  take  a  good  hold  when  he  has 
to  shut  his  teeth  together  upon  a  wild  or  unruly  beast." 

Hearing  his  name  mentioned,  Towzer  got  up  from  the  bearskin,  where  he 


138 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


had  sprawled  himself  out,  and  giving  himself  a  good  shake,  walked  up  to  Tom 
and  resting  his  mouth  on  his  knees  looked  up  into  his  face  with  such  Inquiring 
eyes  that  both  Tom  and  Jim  laughed  outright.  Not  fancying  this  the  dog 
turned  away  to  the  bearskin,  where  he  took  a  turn  or  two,  as  if  to  rid  himself  of 
his  hurt  feelings,  and  laid  down  again. 

"You  see  he  doesn't  like  to  be  laughed  at  any  more  than  the  rest  of  us,  only 
he  is  mistaken  in  the  character  of  the  laugh.     There  is  a  great  difference,  you 


"HEIGH-HO,  MY  BOY!" 

know,  between  the  laugh  of  enjoyment  and  the  laugh  of  contempt;  the  one  is 
bubbling  spring  water,  the  other  sneaking  poision.  But,  bless  me!  Here  I  am 
going  on  like  Parson  McClaren,  who  boasts  that  he  can  preach  a  sermon  two 
hours'  long  and  not  feel  a  bit  tired,  though  many  of  his  congregation  get  so  tired 
they  go  to  sleep  to  rest  themselves. 

"Now,  come  with  me  and  we  will  try  the  boxing  gloves;  it  will  be  sometime 
yet  before  Hannah  and  Peggy  come." 


m 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


139 


They  went  out  Into  the  orchard  where,  putting  on  the  gloves,  they  began  to 
exercise  themselves  under  the  shadow  of  a  great,  gnarled  apple  tree  planted  by 
Tom's  great  grandfather. 

Jim  was  fully  as  tall  as  Tom,  and  as  they  stood  up  to  each  other  and  touched 
gloves  by  way  of  salute,  it  was  a  pretty  sight,  for  all  Tom  was  so  baldheaded  and 
fluffy.  Pretty  to  see  youth  and  years  facing  each  other  ready  for  a  bit  of 
robuts  fun. 

Tom  thought  himself  a  good  boxer,  ornamental  as  well  as  practical.  He 
started  with  his  ornaments,  but  quickly  abandoned  them  on  discovering  that  Jim 
made  small  account  of  them.  At 
one  stage  Tom  made  at  his  young 
antagonist  as  If  he  intended  to  dis- 
connect his  head  from  his  body,  but 
Jim  countered  with  a  blow  that  con- 
founded all  his  calculations  and  con- 
fused him  so  that  he  had  to  call  a 
truce. 

"Heigh-ho,  my  boy!"  he  ex- 
claimed, good  naturedly.  "What 
are  you  up  to?  Hasn't  this  thing 
got  turned  round?  There  is  no  use 
in  my  trying  to  teach  you.  No 
wonder  you  sent  Bill  Bryden  home 
with  tears  in  his  eyes.  Your  'fore-  L 
castle  boxing,'  as  you  call  it,  is  good 
enough  for  landlubbers  any  time. 
You  give  me  more  points  than  I  can 
take  care  of,  let  alone  my  giving  you 
any.     Suppose  we  call  it  quits." 

"But  I  likes  to  box  with  you,  coz 
you  is  a  gentleman  an'  sticks  to  the  rules, 
foul  every  chance  they  got,  though  I  was  a  boy  an'  they  was  men," 

"Well,  Jim;  your  forecastle  days  are  over,  and  if  you  will  stay  in  Queen's 
County  long  enough  we'll  send  you  to  parliament  and  if  I  do  not  die  too  early 
I'll  canvass  the  county  in  your  favor.  I  have  done  that  thing  for  one  James 
Payzant,  and  I  think  I  could  do  It  for  another.  Now  let's  sit  down  on  the  grass 
awhile  and  take  a  bite  at  those  sweet  apples,  while  you  tell  me  about  some  of 
your  sea  experiences," 


JIM  TELLS  HIS  STORY. 


In  the  fo'c'stle  the  sailors  come  it 


^''iPVPiPPiPiPiP 


w^ 


140 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


He  threw  his  boxing  gloves  at  the  root  of  the  tree,  and,  reaching  up  to  a  low 
branch,  brought  down  a  shower  of  great  yellow  drops  that  rolled  about  the  ground 
like  a  lot  of  young  baby  pumpkins. 

Little  by  little,  Tom  elicited  his  story,  laughing  and  quivering  at  turns  as  he 
listened.  Jim's  description  of  his  running  away  from  the  schooner  and  fetching 
up  at  the  Tanner's  by  way  of  the  tan  pile  was  so  vivid  and  pathetic  Tom  couldn't 
keep  the  tears  back  to  save  himself,  so  he  had  to  divert  himself  by  saying  at  the 
close:     "Why,  Jim;  you  are  enough  to  wring  water  out  of  a  stone!" 

Some  one  was  heard  moving  in  the  cottage,  and  Tom  exclaimed:  "Hello, 
there's  the  girls  at  last!     Come  in  and  take  a  look  at  them." 

Now  if  there  was  any  one  thing  Jim  dreaded  more  than  another  it  was  to 
meet  strange  girls,  and  he  began  to  shrink  all  over  at  the  thought  of  going  into 
the  house.  But  he  was  too  polite  to  express  his  discontent  and  too  brave  to  be 
deterred  by  fear,  so  in  he  went  as  brave  as  if  on  his  way  to  a  picnic. 

He  was  much  relieved,  though  somewhat  surprised,  on  entering  to  find  that 
the  two  girls  who  constituted  the  "party"  were  women  of  a  decidedly  mature  age. 

"This,"  said  Tom,  pointing  to  the  elder  of  the  two.  "is  Hannah,  my  sister, 
and  this,"  indicating  the  other,  "is  Peggy — my  Saturday  night  friend.  And 
this,  girls,  is  James  Payzant,  junior,  the  boy  that  thrashed  Bill  Bryden.  You 
may  call  him  James  if  you  wish,  but  I  shall  call  him  Jim,  as  usual." 

The  two  ancient  girls  were  so  cordial  and  unaffected  in  their  reception  of 
Jim  that  he  lost  all  sense  of  embarrassment,  and  immediately  began  to  feel  as 
much  at  home  with  them  as  he  did  with  Tom  himself. 

Hannah  was  older  than  Tom,  and  was  quaintness  itself — dressed  so  oddly 
she  looked  as  if  she  had  just  stepped  out  of  "Mother  Goose's  Melodies."  Her 
eyes  were  so  dark  and  sharp  they  reminded  one  of  the  points  of  black  pins. 
There  never  was  a  kinder  face  nor  a  gentler  voice,  however,  and  she  moved 
about  as  softly  as  if  she  were  pierced  together  with  the  stuff  dreams  are  made 
of.  She  was  an  old  maid,  but  everybody  loved  her,  and  the  instant  anybody's 
baby  was  taken  sick  she  was  sent  for  to  nurse  it  back  to  health  again.  If  it 
hadn't  been  for  her  sharp  eyes,  her  thin  body  might  have  been  pasted  on  a. 
canvas  and  hung  up  for  a  picture  of  an  old  saint.  She  lived  in  her  own  house 
close  by,  where  she  took  care  of  her  aged  and  widowed  mother. 

Peggy,  we  have  already  spoken  of,  and  need  only  add  here  that  she  was,  in 
many  respects,  a  distant  echo  of  Hannah. 

Which  of  them  Tom  thought  the  more  of  was  as  difficult  to  decide  a!s  which 
of  them  thought  the  more  of  Tom.  ^ 

Hannah's  keen  eyes  had  already  discovered  Jim's  old  shoes,  and  as  they 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


141 


were  resting  on  the  mahogany  table  among  the  books  and  papers,  she  took  them 
and  looking  at  the  label  said,  addressing  Jim:     "So  these  are  yours." 

••No,  they  is  Mister  Tom's  now;  he's  gonter  shelve  them  with  the  rest  of 
the  good-bye  shoes  he's  got  out  there  in  his  Shoes'  Rest." 

"Just  so;  well,  suppose  we  go  and  give  them  a  place." 

"I  hope  they  won't  feel  stuck  up  when  they  gits  there." 

"No  danger  of  that;  the  shoes  and  boots  that  go  In  there  are  generally  past 
all  pride." 

"In  the  shoe  museum,  and  with  the  new-comers  placed  on  an  upper  shelf, 
Hannah  pointed  out  a  pair  of  small  shoes, 
which  she  said  belonged  to  her  when  she 
was  a  girl. 

"But  here,"  said  Tom,  "are  fifteen 
other  pairs  that  once  belonged  to  her, 
and  these  seventeen  pairs  all  in  a  row  by 
themselves  were  Peggy's.  If  the  girls 
live  much  longer  I  shall  have  to  build 
on  an  ell  for  the  rest  of  their  old 
shoes." 

"Now,  Tom,  don't  go  to  getting  giddy; 
whenever  I  come  here  I  feel  like  sitting 
down  and  having  a  good  cry,"  said 
Hannah. 

"I  too," 
choly  tone. 

And  really,  the  shoes  among  the  shad- 
ows and  cobwebs  of  this  room,  which  was 
once  the  larder  of  a  large,  bread-winning  family,  were  singularly  suggestive  of 
plaintive  thoughts. 

Sir  Edwin  Arnold  once  wrote  of  a  pair  of  slippers  taken  from  the  feet  of  an 
unknown  Egyptian  mummy: 

For  all  you  can  tell  is  that  leather  will  last 
"  When  love  and  delights  and  beautiful  things 
.'  Have  vanished,  forgotten.    Nay!    Not  quite  that? 

I  catch  some  light  of  the  grace  you  wore 
When  you  finished  with  Life's  daily  pii-a-pat. 
And  left  your  shoes  at  Time  a  bedroom  door  1 

What  would  he  not  have  written  if  he  had  stumbled  upon  such  a  treasure  as 
Tom's  Shoes'  Rest? 

Seeing  the  shoes  laid  away  in  the  old  shoe  pantry,  and  listening  to  the  quaint 


echoed   Peggy,  in  a  melan- 


HANNAH   AND  PEGGY. 


^ 
■% 


■'nil 


■  ^i,■ 


142 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


talk  of  the  queer  trio,  Jim  felt  as  If  he  were  in  danger  of  becoming  suddenly 
old,  and  he  was  glad  when  Tom  said:  "If  we  don't  get  out  of  this  we  shall  turn 
into  old  leather  ourselves." 

But  Towzer  had  gone  out  before  them,  and  they  found  him  racing  around 
the  orchard  with  an  old  boot  which,  unobserved,  he  had  stolen  from  under  Tom's 
very  nose, 

"Here,  Towzer,  you  scoundrel;  you  have  got  one  of  my  grandfather's  boots! 
Bring  it  here,  sir!"  shouted  Tom,  as  soon  as  his  eye  fell  upon  him. 

But  Towzer,  being  no  respecter  of  old  boots,  froliced  around  the  yard  with  his 
prey  regardless  of  either  commands  or  coaxings.  •  Not  until  the  compromise  of  a 
meaty  bone  was  offered  him  did  he  condescend  to  yield,  and  then,  alas,  the  old  cow- 
hide boot  was  in  a  most  pitiful  plight.  Tom  picked  it  up  sorrowfully,  and  in  silence 
restored  it  to  its  mate  which  stood  lop-sidedly  in  a  corner  of  the  shce  pantry  floor. 

"What  does  make  dogs  so  crazy  after  old  shoes!"  he  exclaimed,  when 
they  got  into  the  open  air. 

"P'raps  it's  coz  there's  nothin'  in  'em,"  suggested  Jim,  so  promply  that 
Tom  roared,  Hannah  laughed  and  Peggy  smiled. 

The  two  girls  went  into  the  house  to  get  supper,  Tom  having  given  them  that 
task  for  this  special  occasion.     The  two  boys  started  for  the  Babylonian  gardens. 

What  these  were  we  must  explain.  Back  of  the  orchard  there  was  a  high 
ledge  of  rocks  which  originally  was  as  bare  of  soil  as  Tom's  head  was  of  hair. 
Tom  was  a  diligent  fellow  with  a  great  turn  for  utilizing  things.  Land  was 
scarce  in  Milton,  or,  rather  rocks  were  so  abundant  there  was  not  much  room  left 
for  earth.  Tom  was  fond  of  potatoes,  and  he  was  determined  to  have  a  place 
where  he  could  cultivate  them  to  the  best  advantage.  First  he  constructed  a 
wheel-barrow  road  up  the  ledge  and  then  he  went  and  gathered  all  the  spare 
earth  and  rubbish  he  could  find  and  wheeled  it  to  the  top  of  the  ledge.  After 
many  years  of  labor  he  had  formed  one  of  the  best  garden  spots  in  southern 
Nova  Scotia.  The  potatoes  and  other  garden  truck  he  raised  there  would  have 
astonished  even  a  Yankee  cultivator  of  garden  "sass."  To  prevent  the  rains 
''•om  washing  the  earth  away  he  built  a  solid  wall  of  masonry  around  the  top  of 
the  ledge.  One  corner  he  reserved  for  shrubs  and  flowers.  Being  of  a  Scrip- 
tural turn  of  mind  and  likening  himself  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  he  named  the  place 
"the  Babylonian  Gardens,"  and  by  that  name  it  was  known  throughout  the 
county  and  in  the  press  of  southern  Nova  Scotia. 

Jim  surveyed  the  place  with  wonder,  and  Tom  detailed  his  triumphs  with  zest, 
winding  up  with:  "So  you  see,  Jim,  there's  a  bit  of  the  Nebuchadnezzar  In  me." 

"Whatl    That  old  king  what  tried  to  roast  three  boys?" 


ii. 


^n- 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


143 


This  was  an  association  of  ideas  Tom  wasn't  prepared  for,  and  before  he 
could  pull  himself  together  for  an  answer  the  boy  energetically  added:  "You 
hain't  no  Old  Cud,  Mister  Tom.  You'd  never  hurt  no  boys;  leastwise,  not 
onless  they  was  Bill  Brydens  what'd  slapped  your  eyes  full  o'  huckleberry  pie."' 

The  Tanner  had  told  Tom  of  the  Old  Cud  episode,  and,  indeed,  the  incident 
had  gone  all  over  both  villages,  and  he  was,  therefore,  now  at  no  loss  to  under- 
stand Ji'n's  allusions,  though  for  the  moment,  in  the  pride  of  his  achievements, 
he  had  overlooked  the  incident. 

"No,"  said  he,  earnestly,  "I  don't  want  to  be  an  Old  Cud,  even  though  1 
should  live  to  be  an  hundred  years  old.  Boys  have  as  much  right  to  live  as 
anybody,  and  it  always  pleases  me  to  think  that  when  I  am  dead  there'll  be  lots 
of  them  left  above  ground  to  keep  the  world  lively." 

Here  they  were  interrupted  by  Hannah,  who  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  cliff 
calling;  "Tom  Kenton,  why  don't  you  leave  that  old  Babylonian  garment  and 
come  down  to  supper!"  She  always  called  it  by  this  name  because  he  had  so 
effectually  clothed  the  top  of  the  rock. 

Tom  hurried  down  as  fast  as  his  short  legs  would  allow,  and  seizing  Hannah 
by  the  arm  led  her  to  the  cottage  at  a  pace  that  left  her  panting  and  red. 

The  supper  was  spread  in  the  bearskin  room.  Hannah  sat  at  the  head  of 
the  table,  but  before  they  took  their  seats,  she  bowed  her  head  and  gently 
invoked  a  blessing,  Peggy  reverently  echoing  her  amen. 

Tom  kept  the  table  going  with  his  talk,  Hannah  occasionally  responding  yes 
or  no  to  his  remarks,  while  Peggy  characteristically  confined  herself  to  a  nod  of 
assent  or  a  shake  of  dissent. 

After  tea  the  old  bureau  in  Tom's  room  was  ransacked  for  Jim's  benefit. 
Instead  of  being  filled  with  sheets  and  shirts  for  Tom's  bed  and  person,  it  was 
filled  with  bugs,  shells,  Indian  arrows,  axes,  tomahawks  and  other  Indian  relics. 
One  drawer,  however,  had  been  reserved  for  a  great  collection  of  old  pipes,  and 
a  tough  medley  of  old  sinners  they  v/ere,  too.  In  one  corner  there  was  a  collec- 
tion of  beautiful  crystals  of  various  sizes  and  colors. 

Jim  was  so  interested  he  forgot  himself  entirely  and  sat  till  the  twilight  began 
to  creep  into  the  old-fashioned  windows,  and  it  was  then  he  thought  of  his 
promise  to  be  at  home  in  the  early  evening. 

As  soon  as  he  was  well  on  his  way  home,  he  exclaimed:  "Wall,  wall,  wall! 
That  was  the  funniest  gal  party  I  ever  heerd  on!" 


K6.pterxvi- 

•  AT  SEA  AGAIN, 

HE  month  of  September  had  come.  The 
hill-tops  were  putting  on  their  autumnal 
tints  of  scarlet  and  crimson,  and  yellow 
and  red,  as  if  resolved  to  have  one  more 
gay  time  before  they  put  on  their 
white  robes  and  went  to  bed  for  the 
winter. 

As  the  winters  were  long  and  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world  limited 
during  their  continuance,  it  was  the  cus- 
tom of  Liverpool  people  to  send  to  Hali- 
fax in  the  fall  for  their  winter  supplies. 
They  clubbed  together,  chartered  a 
schooner  and  filling  her  up  with  such 
commodities  as  they  had  to  exchange, 
sent  her  off  to  execute  their  commis- 
sions. 

This  season  they  had  chartered  the 

Dove,  a  schooner  of  about  seventy-five  tons  burden.     The  Tanner  was  one 

of  her  owners 

Tom  was  a  shat'p  bargainer  as  well  as  a  trustworthy  business  man,  and  he 

was,  therefore,  generJ.ly  chosen  as  supercargo  for  the  trip. 

The   Dove  lay  at   Liverpool  wharf  taking  in  dried  cod,  tubbed  mackerel, 

pickled  herring,  smoked  alewives,  digby  chickens — a  small,  smoked  herring — 

maple  syrup,  maple  sugar  and  apples,  and  potatoes. 

Tan  Pile  Jim  10  146 


SIV; 


■•'t}.:?;-" 


146 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Jim  was  a  frequent  visitor  and  an  interested  spectator  during  the  loading  of 
the  schooner. 

Tom  was  on  hand  as  active  as  if  he  carried  a  dozen  men  inside  his  square, 
thick,  beaver-cloth  pea-jacket.  "Wish  you  were  going  with  us,"  said  he  to  Jim, 
as  the  lad  stood  by  him  the  second  afternoon  helping  him  load. 

"That's  the  very  thing  1  was  wishin'  myself.     The  Dove   is  a  trim,  little 

hussy,  an'  I'd  like  to  be  on  her  deck 
whf;n  she  spreads  her  wings  an'  be- 
gins to  cut  up  on  the  briny." 

"Really,  now!  Will  you  go  if  1 
get  the  Tanner's  consent?  We 
haven't  engaged  a  cook  yet,  and 
they  tell  me  you  are  as  good  as  a 
Frenchman  at  pots,  kettles  and  fry- 
ing pans." 

To  Tom's  great  amazement  Jim 
frantically  turned  a  couple  of  somer- 
saults, and  then  replied:  "Jist  you 
try  it  on,  Mister  Tom!" 

Tom  lost  no  time  in  trying  it  on. 
"Yes,"  said  the  Tanner. 
"If  you  will   take  good  care  of 
him,"  qualified  Ruth. 

"Trust  me  for  that!"  rejoined 
Tom,  emphatically.  "There  won't  be 
any  danger  of  his  running  away  from 
the  Dove  while  1  am  supercargo  ' ' 
"No  more  than  there  is  of  the 
compass  needle  running  away  from  the  magnetic  pole.  You  make  me  jealous," 
remarked  the  Tanner,  smiling. 

"Ho,  ho,  ho!"  laughed  Tom,  away  down  below  his  waistband. 
It  was  a  clear,  sunny  morning  when  the  Dove  left  the  wharf,  and  many 
people  were  on  hand  to  see  her  off.  There  was  a  spanking  breeze,  and  as  soon 
as  her  white  canvas  bellied  to  the  wind  she  started  down  the  rippling  harbor  as 
if  chasing  on  the  heels  of  a  competing  racer.  The  British  flag  flew  at  the  main- 
top and  snapped  in  the  air  like  a  thousand  whiplashes. 

"Here  we  are  again!"  exclaimed  Jim,  gleefully,  when  the  Dove  reached  an 
offing  and  began  to  rise  and  fall  with  the  increasing  swell,  and  to  shake  the 


AND  JIM  WAS  COOK. 


'^!R5WP 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


147 


water  from  her  bows  in  glistening  spray.     There  was  a  good  deal  of  the  old  salt 
in  the  lad.  and  his  nostrils  fairly  dilated  as  he  snuffed  the  sea  air  once  more. 

"Yes,  here  we  are  again!"  responded  Tom,  leaning  against  the  windward 
taff-rail  to  steady  himself  on  his  feet,  and  referring  more  p.irticularly  to  the  com- 
panship  which  had  been  so  firmly  established  between  himself  and  the  boy. 

Captain  Bartlett  had  left  the  clothing  counter  from  which  he  fitted  Jim  to 
clothes  the  morning  of  his  delivery  from  the  tan  pile,  and  was  now  in  command 
of  the  Dove,  of  which  he  was  one-half  owner.  He  was  going  to  Halifax  to  lay 
in  a  fresh  supply  of  goods. 

Bob  Buskirk's  big  brother  Ben — 
we  can't  help  these  B's  humming 
here — was  first  mate,  and  a  rousing, 
roysteiing  sailor  he  was.  too.  Be- 
sides the  Captain  and  his  mate,  there 
were  four  sailors — all  from  among 
Liverpool's  staunchest  citizens.  Al- 
together it  was  a  snug,  little  sailing 
party. 

There  was  no  forecastle,  and  the 
cabin  served  the  triple  purpose  of 
parlor,  bedroom  and  kitchen. 

Tom  was  not  much  of  a  sailor,  but 
could  pull  a  rope  and  take  his  trick  at 
the  helm  to  good  purpose  when  occa- 
sion required. 

And    Jim   really    was   the    cook. 
Speaking  of   it  afterward   Tom  said, 
with  great  gusto,  that   he   just   laid 
himself  out  on  the  dinner  the  first  day. 
potatoes,  flap-jacks  and  molasses  scouse 


COULD  STBER  LIKE  AN  OLD  SAILOR. 


Coffee,  beefsteak,  fried  cod,  boiled 
soaked  shipbread  fried  and  eaten 
with  molasses — were  all  brought  to  the  table  as  ship-shape  as  if  a  woman  had 
bossed  the  stove. 

Jim  took  the  watch  while  the  others  were  at  dinner,  for  the  Captain  had  dis- 
covered that  he  could  steer  like  an  old  sailor.  There  he  stood  on  deck  master 
of  all  he  surveyed,  with  not  a  soul  nor  a  sail  in  sight!  On  one  side  the  land 
stretched  northward  like  a  speckled-blue  cloud  hovering  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  while  on  the  other  was  the  immeasurable  ocean,  blue-black,  white-capped 
and  restless. 


'^" 


'V.*ji  "^  f^;«i 


148 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


With  a  free  sheet  and  a  wholesale  breeze  the  Dove  was  doing  her  prettiest. 
As  Jim  stood  to  the  helm,  watching  his  compass  and  keeping  the  vessel  to  her 
course,  he  hummed  a  remembered  snatch  of  a  wild,  forecastle  air  taught  him 
by  one  of  his  former  companions  of  the  sea: 

Bless  me!    This  Is  jolly,  sailing  o'er  the  sea. 
Billows  bulging  round  us,  water  in  the  lee— 
Scuppers  swashing  smartly,  timing  with  the  roar 
Of  the  dashing  spray  clouds  gathering  at  the  fore! 
Sing,  ye  lubbers,  loudly!    Get  your  sea-legs  on; 
Soon  you'll  see  the  waters  mounting  into  mon- 
sters with  foaming  summits  curling  like  the  clouds. 
And  splashing  up  the  spray  through  the  straining  shrouds 

Hear  the  maties  bawling,  like  the  very  de'il! 
»  See!  the  masts  are  bending  as  we  dance  our  reel- 

ing way  o'er  the  ocean,  like  the  flying  scud 
Scooting  through  the  he;ivens  ready  for  a  flood. 
Let  the  whitecaps  follow,  we  can  them  outrun; 
Swift  as  Carey  chickens,  and  I  vow  by  thnn- 
Der,  'tis  awful  jolly  rushing  through  the  sea. 
Like  a  living  critter,  'Yankee  Doodle  "  free. 


There  were  two  more  verses  of  it,  but  this,  perhaps,  is  as  much  as  the  reader 
can  endure.  To  Jim  there  was  something  in  the  rhythm  of  the  words  that 
timed  with  the  movements  of  both  sea  and  schooner,  and  he  was  so  taken  up 
with  them  that  when  he  had  finished  singing  them  once  he  began  them  again. 

At  six  o'clock  of  the  evening  of  the  second  day  they  were  off  Sambro  light, 
and  an  hour  after  were  snugly  anchored  ^vhere  they  could  look  into  the  muzzles 
of  the  guns  of  the  fortifications  of  George's  Island  in  Halifax  harbor. 

Tom  sold  the  cargo  to  advantage  and  then  began  laying  in  return  stores  of 
flour,  sugar,  molasses  and  notions,  according  to  the  various  and  numerous  com- 
missions intrusted  to  his  management. 

"Here,  Jim,"  called  he,  coming  on  board  from  one  of  his  purchasing  rounds 
in  the  city,  "here  is  something  the  Tanner  told  me  to  get  for  you." 

The  package  was  small  but  heavy,  and  when  the  boy  took  it  he  felt  it  over 
and  over  and  for  some  time  indulged  the  luxury  of  guessing  its  contents,  Tom 
the  while  watching  his  movements  with  great  amusement.  On  opening  it  he 
found  a  fine,  full-fledged  silver  watch. 

"Now,"  said  he,  snapping  his  fingers  until  they  sounded  like  fire-crackers,  "I 
kin  keep  the  time  myself  when  I  gits  home,  an'  the  sun  an'  old,  yaller-leggid 
Shang  kin  git  up  in  the  mornin'  an'  go  erbout  their  business  'thout  takin'  the 
trouble  to  git  under  or  inter  my  winder  to  give  me  the  time  o'  day.     My,  my, 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


149 


my!     I'll  be  so  reg'ler  the  ol'  gran'father  clock  what's  in  the  corner'll  git  jeal- 
ous uv  me." 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  their  arrival  they  again  hoisted  sails 
and  headed  for  home,  just  deeply  enough  loaded  to  put  them  in  good  trim  for 
strong  winds  and  boisterous  weather.  By  noon  the  sky  was  overcast  with  ugly 
clouds,  and  the  Dove  was  running  under  double  reefs  over  a  wild,  rough  sea. 
When  evening  came,  a  fierce,  September  gale  raged  along  the  coast,  and  the 
vessel's  deck  was  swept  from  stem  to  stern  at  almost  every  plunge  she  made. 
She  had  no  canvas  out  save  a  small  storm  sail  on  the  foremast.  The  hatches 
were  battened  down  and  everything  made 
snug  for  the  gravest  emergencies.  At  ten 
o'clock  they  were  off  the  light  on  Coffin's 
Island,  which  lies  near  the  inc^h  of  Liver- 
pool harbor.  But  the  gale  \  o  terrific 
and  bore  the  Dove  before  it  with  such  fury, 
it  would  have  been  madness  to  attempt  an 
entrance. 

"There  is  nothing  for  it  but  to  let  her 
scud,"  said  the  Captain,  consulting  with  his 
mate.     "How  is  the  pump?" 

"Dry  as  a  cork,  sir.  She  holds  together 
as  tight  as  a  Dutchman's  beer  keg" 

"But  if  this  gale  continues  in  this  direc- 
tion many  hours  longer  we  shall  be  driven 
straight  to  sea." 

"Well,  we  have  plenty  of  provision  on 
board  and  need  not  starve,  even  though  we 
should  be  driven  as  far  south  as  the  Equa- 
tor," replied  the  mate,  who  was  famous 
for  his  hopefulness  as  well  as  for  his  pluck  and  endurance  when  face  to  face 
vith  peril. 

Tom  was  in  the  cabin  so  deathly  sick  and  dismantled  that  he  wished  himself 
at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  the  sea  at  the  bottom  of  the  universe.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  terrible  nausea  racking  him  almost  to  pieces,  the  violent  movements 
of  the  vessel  knocked  him  about  as  if  he  were  a  foot-ball  going  the  rounds  of  a 
college  campus  or  the  back  alleys  of  slumdom.  Jim,  entirely  unaffected  by  the 
turmoil,  was,  in  a  manner,  chasing  round  after  him  and  doing  what  he  could  to 
pin  him  down  to  one  place  and  mitigate  his  sufferings.  ,    .    r-  ... 


THE  FINE,  FULL-FLEDGED  SILVER 
WATCH. 


^ 


150 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


While  Jim  was  thus  trying  to  steady  him  on  the  locker,  which  ended  in  a 
corner  of  the  cabin,  and  doing  his  best  to  get  a  short  turn  around  him  with  a 
rope  that  he  might  belay  him  where  he  would  be  kept  from  banging 
himself  to  pieces  against  the  cooking  stove,  Tom  for  a  moment  ceased 
his  retchings  and  groanings  and  actually  began  to  speak.     But   his  deep, 


TBYING  TO  BEI.AY  TOM  TO  SOMBTHINQ. 

round  voice  had  assumed  such  a  piping,  shrill  tone,  Jim  could  scarcely  believe 
his  own  ears. 

"Jim,"  he  wailed,  "the  head  of  the  berth  has  pounded  my  skull  into  frag- 
ments, and  the  foot  of  it  has  shivered  my  shins  into  splinters;  the  whole  cabin 
is  doing  its  best  to  skin  me  alive,  and  the  infernal  sea  has  knocked  the  insides 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


151 


out  of  me  altogether.  Do  you  think  you  can  pick  up  enough  of  me  to  make 
Peggy  believe  that  her  Tom  still  exists?  Will  there  be  enough  of  me  left  to 
carry  on  shore  in  a  tin  pail?" 

"Yis,  indeed,  Mister  Tom,  an'  there  won't  be  vittles  ernough  in  Milton  to 
keep  you  goin'  when  you  gits  ashore,"  responded  Jim,  who  was  so  well 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  seasickness  that  he  was  not  at  all  alarmed  about 
Tom's  condition. 

"Are  we  almost  home?" 

"Left  Liverpool  astarn  uv  us  more'n  an  hour  ergo." 

"What  the  blazes  do  you  mean,  Jim?" 

"Couldn't  git  in  coz  the  door  was  shut,  an'  we  is  scuddin'  for  the  fust  place 
what' 11  take  us  in." 

"Good  Lord!  Oh  dear,  dear!  This  is  awful!"  And  Tom  became  so 
extra  limp  and  pitched  about  so  frightfully,  he  fell  sprawling  to  the  cabin  floor 
where,  to  prevent  his  rolling  about  like  a  ball,  Jim  pushed  him  to  leeward  and 
sitting  down  by  him  braced  his  back  against  him  as  a  sort  of  wedge  to  keep 
him  in  place. 

At  midnight  the  gale  increased,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  Dove  must  founder 
under  the  waves  now  piling  upon  her  thick  and  fast. 

It  was  impossible  to  keep  a  light  in  the  cabin,  and,  as  the  companion  way 
had  been  fast  hooked,  the  air  was  fetid  and  stifling.  Tom  still  had  life  enough 
left  in  him  to  groan  dismally,  while  Jim,  true  as  steel,  stuck  by  him  and  tried  to 
save  him  from  as  many  bumps  as  possible. 

The  Nova  Scotians  are  born  of  water,  and  the  men  on  deck,  thoroughly 
inured  to  all  sorts  of  maritime  dangers,  had  both  themselves  and  the  Dove  so 
completely  in  hand  they  were  doing  all  that  could  possibly  be  done  to  secure  the 
safety  of  the  vessel. 

Suddenly  the  man  on  watch  ahead  shouted:     "Light,  ho!     Dead  ahead!" 

"That  is  Bushen's  Island  light,"  said  the  Captain  to  his  mate.  "Give  me 
the  helm.  Now's  our  chance.  I'll  run  her  in  between  Bushen's  and  Spectacle 
Island,  where  we  can  find  a  place  to  anchor.  I  know  a  hole  there  in  which  we 
can  ride  out  the  gale  in  safety.  Take  in  the  storms' 1,  and  see  that  the  anchors 
and  chains  are  ready." 

Twenty  minutes  after  the  Dove  was  riding  at  anchor,  but  uneasily,  for  the 
heavy  swell  swept  the  spot  and  the  gale  roared  through  her  rigging  as  if  in  dis- 
appointment of  being  robbed  of  the  bones  of  the'  little  craft. 

Toward  morning,  the  wind  having  increased,  she  began  to  drag  her  anchors, 
and  in  spite  of  everything  that  could  be  done,  she  went  ashore  on  Port  Mouton 


"■w    ->'^'.-*' 


152 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Head.  Happily,  however,  she  struck  upon  a  sand  beach.  Another  thing  In  her 
favor  was  a  rapidly  receding  tide,  which  left  her  high  and  dry,  though  keeled 
over  broadside  on. 

Jim  had  been  so  busy  on  deck  assisting  the  men  he  could  not  visit  Tom, 

but  the  instant  he  got  a  chance  he  went  below  to  see  how  his  friend  had  fared. 

As  the  vessel  keeled  over  Tom  rolled  to  the  lower  side  like  a  log,  and  the 

moment  he  knew  Jim  was  by  his  side  he  wrathily  asked,  recovering  a  part  of 

his  stentorian  tones:     "What  in  thunder  has  happened?" 

"Why.  don'tcher  know,  Mister 
Tom,  that  you  has  been  shppin' 
erbout  here  like  biled  pork  what  has 
cut  loose?" 

"You  don't  say!  But  what  is 
this  infernal  schooner  up  to.  any- 
way?" 

"Nothin',    uv    any    consekence; 
she's  jist   keepin'  still   an'  lookin' 
round,  kinder,  to  see  how  she  got 
vkeeled  up  so  nicely." 

"I  take  it  that  we  have  run 
ashore,  then." 

"Yis:  kinder,  sorter." 
"Thank  heaven!  I've  got  sick 
of  bobbing  from  one  end  of  the 
cabin  to  the  other.  I  wish  you 
could  get  me  something  to  eat, 
I'm  as  hollow  as  a  stovepipe  that 
has  had  even  the  soot  knocked  out 
of  it."  And  Tom  picked  himself 
up  In  the  most  gingerly  manner  and  stowed  himself  upon  the  lowermost  locker, 
where  he  sat  looking  at  Jim  and  making  a  feeble  attempt  at  a  smile. 

"Ef  the  vittles  hasn't  all  gone  to  Davy  Jones,  I'll  git  you  a  belly  full  in  a 
jiffy,  Mister  Tom;  it  sounds  so  good  to  hear  you  speak  unner  your  weskit 
agin." 

"The  cabin  was  in  a  bad  state,  to  be  sure;  yet  from,  amid  the  ruins  Jim 
managed  to  supply  Tom's  immediate  wants,  and  with  such  good  effect  that  no 
sooner  had  he  got  something  do\vn  than  he  wanted  to  go  up.  The  storm  had 
spent  its  fury,  and  the  sun  was  rising  big  and  clear. 


TOM  RECOVERS. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


153 


When  Tom's  head  appeared  above  the  companion  way  the  Captain  sung  out 
cheerily:  "We  haven't  started  a  plank  nor  so  much  as  wet  s  single  box  of 
cargo.' ' 

"But  we  have  laid  the  whole  concern  on  th,e  top  shelf  as  high  and  as  dry  as 
a  tree  top,"  was  the  discontented  reply. 

"We  ought  to  be  thankful  we  are  not  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  Yet  the 
Dove  is  not  so  badly  off  as  you  suppose.  She  came  on  at  half  tide,  and  by 
removing  the  heaviest  of  her  cargo  she'll  float  at  next  flood.'' 

"Let's  to  work  at  once,  then.  There  are  men  lying  at  the  other  end  of  the 
beach  behind  those  woods;  send  for  them  so  that  we  may  be  ready  when  the 
next  tide  comes."  And  Tom  buttoned  his  reef-jacket  around  him  and -went 
into  the  work  as  big-voiced  as  ever.. 


• 


have 
some 
provi 
E 
coml 


^ 


'/ 


l\6.pter-Mi- 


THE    RETURN   OF   THE   DOVE. 

HAT  September  gale  proved  to  be  one 
of  the  fiercest  that  had  swept  the  Nova 
Scotlan  coast  for  many  years.  The 
shore  was  strewn  with  wrecks,  and  many 
';,3S  were  lost.  Only  three  miles  from 
where  the  Dove  went  ashore  a  full 
rigged  ship  was  wrecked  on  Black  Point 
and  not  a  soul  survived  to  tell  the  tale. 
Tidings  of  disaster  were  already  reach- 
ing the  little  town  of  Liverpool,  and  the 
deepest  concern  was  felt  for  the  safety 
of  the  Dove,  It  having  become  known 
that  she  put  to  sea  just  before  the  storm 
came  on. 

Ruth  was  be    2d  with  forebodings,  and 

the  Tanner   in   trying  to   comfort  her, 

said:     "The  Dove  is  a  staunch  craft  and 

Bartlett  is  a  thorough  seaman,  as  are  all 

'!  the   men  with   him.    The  vessel   may 

have  been  driven  of  the  coast,  and  in  that  event  she  will  not  be  heard  from  for 

some  time.    There  is  some  comfort  in  knowing  that  they  had  a  good  supply  of 

provisions  on  board."  '^  . 

But  Ruth  saw  that  her  husband  was  a  prey  to  the  worst  of  fears  and  needed 
comforting  as  well  as  she.     In  fact,  unable  to  endure  his  own  uneasiness,  the 

155 


.  ^»iii>y; 


i:fk.'^: 


156 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Tanner  went  up  to  the  tannery  with  the  intention  of  resuming  his  work  and  wait- 
ing for  tidings,  if  tidings  should  come.  The  sight  of  Jim's  bench,  however,  was 
too  much  for  him,  and  he  returned  to  the  cottage  and  took  his  spy-gla^s  and 
went  to  the  top  of  the  loftiea  hill  that  lifted  its  head  on  his  side  of  the  river. 
Here  he  had  a  broad  view  of  the  sea  in  every  direction.  Far  away  to  the  north 
he  saw  a  schooner  sailing  the  course  the  Dove  would  take  were  she  bound  home- 
ward from  Halifax.  His  heart  gave  a  great  leap.  But  alas  for  his  hopes!  it 
needed  only  a  single  glance  through  his  glass  to  convince  him  that  it  was  not  the 
Dove.  No  other  sail  being  in  sight  he  went  home.  Ruth,  knowing  what  his 
errand  had  been,  anxiously  scanned  his  face  for  some  assuring  sign,  but  seeing 
none,  went  about  her  domestic  duties  with  dry  and  burning  eyes.  Jim  was  as 
dear  to  them  both  as  their  first  son  had  been,  and  now  that  they  were  becoming 
so  well  advanced  in  years  grief  sat  heavily  upon  them.  Nor  did  they  forget  the 
other  families  of  the  village  who  wer.  under  the  same  dark  cloud. 

Presently  Vi  entered,  and  seeing  how  distressed  Ruth  was,  she  began  to  flit 
about  doing  a  host  of  little  things  to  assist  her  in  her  work.  With  girlhood's 
sweet  assurance  she  instinctively  felt  that  her  presence  would  be  of  some  com- 
fort to  the  dear  old  woman. 

During  the  earlier  part  of  the  afternoon  Hannah  and  Peggy,  looking  pale  and 
worried,  dropped  in,  and  being  earnestly  pressed  to  remain  removed  their  wraps 
and  sat  down. 

Hannah,  notwithstanding  her  fears,  was  determined  to  talk  hopefully.  "I 
saw  Captain  Minard  before  I  came  away  from  home,"  said  she,  "and  you  know 
that  he  is  a  man  of  great  experience  when  it  comes  to  sea  matters;  and  he  says 
he  has  been  studying  out  the  question  of  the  Dove's  whereabouts.  He  thinks 
she  must  have  scud  before  the  gale  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  and 
would  have  fetched  up  near  the  entrance  to  Barrington  harbor.  And  as  he  knew 
that  place  so  well,  she  would  have  no  difficulty  in  making  a  shelter  under  the  lee 
of  Cape  Sable  or  in  the  western  passage,  which  he  says  would  scarcely  feel  the 
effects  of  the  gale.  •He  also  says  the  wind  having  been  so  strong  and  contrary 
since  it  cleared  up,  they  haven't  had  time  to  make  their  way  back  to  Liverpool 
yet.  At  any  rate  I'll  not  believe  that  my  brother  Tom  is  lost  until  I  see  his 
ghost  and  have  It  from  his  own  lips." 

"From  his  own  lips,"  repeated  Peggy,  faintly,  wiping  her  eyes  and  hiding  her 
face  In  her  handkerchief. 

The  Tanner  had  been  out  calling  upon  the  old  sailors  of  the  town,  and  when 
he  returned  he  said  that  all  he  had  talked  with  entertained  about  the  same  views 
that  Captain  Minard  had.     There  was  such  a  brightening  time  of  it  at  the 


*'!..^t: 


■  ■*■, .,   ,  '1 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


157 


cottage  under  these  agreeing  views,  Ruth  went  about  the  work  of  preparing 
tea  quite  cheerfully.  Hannah  and  Peggy  made  themselves  helpfully  handy,  as 
much  for  their  own  relief  as  for  Ruth's  benefit.  Hannah  kept  up  a  constant 
chatter  of  hopeful  remarks,  Peggy  contenting  herself  with  echoes,  which,  how- 
ever, owing  to  her  strong  misgivings,  were  unusually  feeble.  Vi  accepted  an 
invitation  to  remain  to  tea,  and  when  that  hour  arrived  and  all  were  seated,  so 
much  was  said  about  Tom  and  Jim  that  the  ears  of  those  worthies  must  have 
been  utterly  burned  to  charcoal,  had  it  not  been  that  at  that  identical  hour  they 
were  just  as  earnestly  talking  about  Hannah  aiid  Peggy,  and  Ruth  and  the 
Tanner  and  Vi. 

When  night  cam.e,  Ruth  and  the  Tanner  insisted  that  Hannah  and  Peggy 
should  stay  all  night,  they  had  been  such  a  comfort. 

"Shall  we?"  asked  Hannah,  turning  to  Peggy. 

"We  will."  responded  Peggy,  with  more  determination  than  she  had  exhib- 
ited for  many  a  day.  "The  Dove  may  come  in  at  any  moment,  and  when  she 
makes  her  appearance  we  ought  to  be  here  to  welcome  them  back." 

The  very  idea  of  welcoming  them  back  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  Tanner 
that  he  began  to  talk  almost  as  freely  and  cheerfully  as  if  Tom  and  Jim  were 
there  to  participate  in  the  conversation. 

But  to  return  to  the  Dove.  She  floated  at  the  i.'^xt  tide,  as  the  Captain  had 
predicted.  With  the  help  secured  from  men  living  in  tiic  vicinity- men  who 
never  once  dreamed  of  salvage  or  wreckage,  but  were  content  with  the  modest 
wages  paid  them — the  cargo  was  in  a  few  hours  reloaded  in  almost  as  good 
shape  as  it  was  at  first. 

The  instant  the  cargo  was  fairly  on  board,  the  flag  went  up  to  the  maintop, 
and  every  inch  of  canvas  the  vessel  possessed  was  set  to  catch  the  wind  which 
was  now  blowing  directly  fair  for  Liverpool. 

"Here  we  are  again,  as  sassy  as  ever!"  shouted  Jim,  gleefully,  as  he  thought 
of  soon  being  at  the  cottage  again. 

"I  should  like  to  know  what  Han  and  Peg  are  doing  this  blessed  minute," 
remarked  Tom,  rubbing  his  hands  in  anticipation  of  once  more  hiding  himself  in 
the  shadows  of  his  own  weather-beaten  home  under  the  trees.  He  really 
thought  at  one  time  during  the  gale  that  his  old  shoe  collecting  times  were  over, 
and  that  Peggy  would  be  found  in  the  dim  shoe  pantry  mourning  over  his  old 
boots,  of  which  there  were  a  score  of  pairs,  more  or  less. 

"I  reckon  they  is  givin'  your  old  house  a  clearin'  up  all  over  the  lot,"  -sug- 
gested Jim,  who  thought  that  Tom's  house  was  just  the  place  where  two  old 
maids  could  woik  wonders  in  the  absence  of  the  old  bachelor. 


158 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"I  think  not,"  growled  Tom,  frowning  darkly  at  the  very  thought  of  such  a 
desecration. 

"It's  half  past  ten  o'clock,"  said  Jim,  looking  at  the  face  of  his  new  watch 
for  the  time  of  day  with  considerable  ostentation,  and  wondering  what  would 
have  become  of  it  if  everybody  had  gone  to  the  bottom.  But  he  was  a  boy,  and 
one  thing  follows  another  in  a  boy's  mind  like  drops  of  water  in  a  rainstorm,  and 
he  suddenly  broke  out  with:  "Now,  for  dinner,  an'  what  does  you  suppose  I'm 
gonter  have,  Mister  Tom?" 

"I'm  sure  I  can't  imagine." 

"A  huckleberry  gruntl" 

"Do!"  And  Tom,  not  satisfied  with  the  emphasis  he  had  thrown  into  the 
lone  syllable,  slapped  his  hands  together  and  made  a  report  like  a  pistol. 

Jim  had  three  small  jugs  of  preserved  huckleberries  in  reserve,  and  with 
these  he  went  to  work  intend;,  g  to  make  a  "grunt"  after  Ruth's  most  approved 
recipe. 

You  place  a  batch  of  well-kneaded  dough  at  the  bottom  of  a  kettle;  over  this 
you  pour  a  layer  of  berries;  then  comes  another  layer  of  dough  and  another  of 
berries  until  the  kettle  is  two-thirds  full.  Over  the  whole  you  place  a  nice 
whitecap  of  dough  and  a  tight  cover  to  shut  the  whole  thing  out  of  sight  until  it 
sees  fit  to  show  itself.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  after  the  kettle  is  set  over  a 
steady  fire,  the  cover  will  be  lifted  and  a  black  and  white  face  will  begin  to  show 
itself  above  the  top  of  the  kettle,  wearing  the  cover  for  its  crown  cf  victory  and 
peering  outdoors,  so  to  .peak,  as  if  to  say:     "Here  I  am;  come  and  get  me!" 

How  this  compound  -light  as  a  snow  ball  and  dark  as  an  African — ever  got 
its  name,  no  one  knows.  But,  certain  it  is,  that  it  is  a  Nova  Scotian  classic  in 
the  Black-Mouth  season.  That  Jim  had  learned  to  compound  it  to  perfection, 
was  testified  to  by  the  crew  of  the  Dove  that  day,  for  not  a  vestige  of  it  was  left 
when  the  dinner  was  done. 

And  now  to  go  back  to  Liverpool  again.  Hannah  and  Peggy,  too  anxious 
and  restless  to  slt«?p,  were  in  Jim's  bed  talking  of  the  missing  vessel.  The 
Tanner  and  his  wife  w^re  also  t^  ssing  about  and  conversing  in  low  tones  in  the 
bedroom  immediately  under  them. 

Vi,  at  her  own  home,  was  asleep  and  dreaming  after  a  prolonged  period  of 
nervous  wakefulness.  The  Dove  had  become  a  great  ship  of  war,  and  James 
Payzant,  Jr.,  was  her  commander,  decked  with  a  gold-bespangled  uniform  with 
a  glittering  sword  hanging  by  his  side.  Straight  into  Liverpool  harbor  he  sailed, 
where  his  great  guns  were  booming  wildly  over  the  waters,  for  he  had  come  to 
make  her  his  bride  and  to  carry  her  off  to  a  palace  in  a  distant  paradise. 


t»Ui 


^.■aJ!WteCf«5i!HBW!5i«iJtl«e<4i!»■l■»«*>■ 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


159 


Now,  at  the  very  moment  she  began  to  dream,  a  real  cannon  broke  the  still- 
ness of  the  night.  A  sharp-eared  resident  near  the  wharf  heard  the  sound  of 
anchor  chains  rattling  through  the  hawser-hole  of  a  vessel  which  had  just  enteiad 
the  harbor.  Hastening  out  he  recognized  outlines  of  the  Dove  through  the  dark- 
ness. Knowing  where  there  was  plenty  of  powder  to  be  had,  he  ran  and  helped 
himself  to  it  and  made  haste  to  the  little  public  square,  where  there  was  an  old 
field  piece,  which,  after  a  few  moments,  shouted  in  thunder  tones  from  its  round- 
mouthed,  iron  throat:     "She's  come!" 


"SHE'S  COHBl' 


And  how  the  hills  did  re-echo  the  shout:     "She's  come!    She's  come!" 

"She's  come!"  shouted  the  Tanner,  leaping  out  of  bed  at  a  single  bound, 
almost  beside  him.'.elf  with  joy. 

"Thank  God,  she's  come!"  And  Ruth  almost  tumbled  out  of  bed  in  her 
haste  to  follow  the  Tanner  to  ihe  floor. 

"There  she  is!"  cried  Hannah,  upstairs,  bouncing  out  of  Jim's  bed  like  an 
India-rubber  ball.  >'""-> 

"She  is!"  repeated  Peggy,  following  after  with  less  emphasis,  but  almost 


■jr^.-'j^n  ,j,^, 


:ar^--  ■ : 


160 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


tearing  the  wall  paper  to  flinders  in  her  frantic  attemps  to  Ignite  the  point  of  a 
pencil  which,  in  her  confusion  of  mind,  she  had  mistaken  for  a  match. 

"The  Dove!  The  Dove!"  cried  Vi,  waking  from  her  dream  in  time  to  hear 
the  echoes  of  the  cannon  receding  among  the  hills. 

"Safe  at  last!"  thankfully  thought  the  families  of  the  men  who  formed  the 
crew  of  the  Dove,  as  they  hastened  from  their  anxious  couches  and  relit  the 
tallow  candles  and  oil  lamps  of  their  humble  homes. 


WBIiCOHING  THE  VOTAGEBS  BACK. 


And  all  Liverpool  thanked  heaven  gratefully,  because  sure  that  the  cannon 
would  not  have  been  fired  unless  the  Dove  was  safe. 

"Cling-clang,  ling-a-ling;  ding-dong,  ding-a-ling;  clang-clang,  ring-along," 
said  the  little  village  bell,  waking  up  at  last  and  shaking  the  steeple  as  if  it  had  a 
good  mind  to  shake  it  down  for  not  waking  it  before. 

Then  from  the  vacant  spot  in  the  rear  of  the  wharf  a  great,  ruddy  flame 
burst  forth  from  the  heart  of  an  immense  brush-heap,  and  ten  thousand  minia- 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


161 


ture  voices  added  their  cacklings  to  the  voices  of  men,  women  and  children 
gathered  on  the  wharf  to  welcome  the  voyagers  back  again. 

"Has  the  folkses  all  gone  crazy  since  we  left,  Mister  Tom?"  asked  Jim, 
wonderingly,  and  little  dreaming  that  all  this  ado  was  made  over  the  return  of  the 
Dove.     "Or  is  they  gittln'  up  a  Fourth  o'  July  in  tne  night  time  on  the  sly." 

But  Tom  was  too  full  to  answer.  These  scenes  and  sounds  spoke  eloquently 
to  him  of  the  terrible  suspense  through  which  the  people  had  passed  on  their 


BAT  TOGETHER  TILL  THE  MORNING. 

account,  and  his  thoughts  were  busy  about  those  who,  perchance,  would  wait  In 
vain  for  husbands,  fathers  and  sons  who  had  gone  down  to  the  sea  for  the  last 
time.  He  was  a  tender-hearted  fellow,  who  never  was  so  taken  up  with  himself 
as  to  forget  that  there  were  other  people  in  the  world  besides  himself.  Now, 
that  the  storm  was  over  he  began  to  realize  that  it  had  brought  disaster  to  hun- 
dreds as  well  as  peril  to  thousands. 

The  preparations  for  landing  were  made  almost  in  silence,  for  every  man  on 

board  was  profoundly  moved  at  the  demonstration  being  made  on  shore. 

Tan  Pile  Jim  11 


.vWJ«.''pUil^u^^,'' 


■■-Mt'^ 


162 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Are  you  all  there?"  shouted  the  Tanner,  as  soon  as  the  boat  stole  through 
the  shadows  into  the  reddening  glow  of  the  great  bonfire. 
.     "Every  mother's  son  of  us!"  cried  Tom,  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

This  unlimbered  the  crowd  on  the  wharf  and  cheer  after  cheer  rang  on  the 
air.  The  echoing  hills  broke  forth  again  and  hurrahed  until  it  seemed  as  if  the 
generations  of  a  hundred  years  had  lifted  their  heads  from  their  graves  just  long 
enough  to  let  their  successors  know  that  they  were  fully  alive  to  what  was  taking 
place  upon  this  old,  time-cracked  globe  of  ours. 

Ruth  couldn't  say  a  word  when  she  folded  Jim  in  her  arms,  but  she  kissed 
him  again  and  again,  and  that  made  Vi  wish  that  she  could  do  the  same,  for 

Ruth's  sake,  of  course.  The  Tanner  took 
his  hand  and  tried  to  put  a  halter  around 
his  own  feelings  by  saying  as  funnily  as 
possible:  "Well,  my  lad,  old  Peggysis 
has  been  awful  lonely  during  your  ab- 
sence." 

"Oh.  Tom!"  exclaimed  Hannah  to  that 
worthy,  "1  knew  all  the  time  that  you 
would  come  back." 

"Come  back!"  piped  Peggy,  falteringly, 
giving  his  hand  a  gentle  squeeze,  a  thing 
she  had  never  dared  to  do  before  in  all 
their  courtship. 

"Come  back!     Why,  did  you  suppose 

that  we  had  gone  on  a  trip  to  the  South 

Pole?"  replied  Tom,  wiping  his  eyes  with 

the   sleeve    of    his    pea-jacket,   thereby 

greatly  increasing  their  inflammation. 

The  people  scattered,  the  echoes  shut  their  mouths,  the  bonfire  hid  its  head 

beneath  the  ashes,  the  cannon  wondered  when  it  would  get  another  chance  to 

clear  its  throat  and  the  bell  fell  into  a  deacon-like  doze  and  dreamed  that  it  was 

cracked  from  top  to  bottom.  . 

But  at  the  Tanner's  house  the  stove  was  crackling  at  a  great  rate,  and  the 
table, not  to  be  behind  in  its  welcome,  used  the  crockery  for  tongues  and  merrily 
joined  in  the  welcoming  clamor. 

Tom  took  a  place  between  Hannah  and  Peggy;  Jim  sat  between  Ruth  and 
the  Tanner,  and  during  the  feast  of  joy,  Tom  Kenton,  supercargo,  told  the  story 
of  "How  the  Dove  Didn't  Get  Wrecked." 


AT  TEN  O'CLOCK  PRECISELY. 


m 


pM-- 


Ji 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


163 


A  sickle  of  a  moon  gleamed  palely  through  the  windows  and  cut  down  the 
moments  like  swiftly  falling  wheat. 

The  Tanner  and  Ruth,  worn  out,  went  off  to  bed  and  sank  into  a  sweet, 
dreamless  slumber. 

"Hello!"  exclaimed  Jim,  when  he  went  to  his  room  and  found  it  in  the  state 
in  which  it  was  left  by  the  "girls"  when  they  tumbled  out  of  bed  to  the  racket 
of  the  gun,  "I  reckon  a  hurricane  has  been  takin'  a  nap  in  my  bed!"  He 
made  it  up  as  ceremoniously  and  as  carefully  as  if  he  were  bed-maker  to  the 
queen,  for  it  was  understood  that  Tom  was  to  follow  him  sometime  before 
daylight. 

Hannah  had  been  directed  to  occupy  another  chamber,  and  when  she  went 
to  bed  she  gently  admonished  Peggy  that  she  must  not  "sit  up"  too  late. 

But  Tom  and  Peggy,  now  that  no  raging  seas  rolled  between  them  to  affright 
their  loving  souls,  sat  together  till  the  morning! 

When  Ruth  got  up  the  two  were  setting  the  table  for  breakfast,  looking  as 
bright  and  as  beaming  as  the  round-faced  sun  that  was  just  beginning  to  show 
itself  above  the  hill-tops. 

And  now  that  the  Saturday  night  spell  had  been  broken  by  their  sitting 
together  on  a  Thursday  night,  and  now  that  the  ten  o'clock  spell  had  also  been 
broken  by  their  indulging  in  a  later  hour  than  ten,  and  now  that  the  storm  had  set 
them  to  thinking  of  the  brevity  of  life,  they  were  married  on  the  ensuing  Satur- 
day night  at  ten  o'clock  precisely. 

And  it  became  the  fashion  of  the  older  residents  of  Liverpool  and  Milton  to 
reckon  events  from  the  date  of  the  Dove's  return  and  the  ending  of  the  thirty 
years'  courtship  of  Tom  and  Peggy. 


INS  AND  OUTS  OF  WINTER. 


HE  November  snows  had  come  and 
after  them  thick  ice  upon  the  river. 
The  keen  air  was  so  enlivening  it  made 
Jim  feel,  to  use  his  own  expression. 
"Ez  ef  he  was  a  double  Jim."  He  was 
in  his  element,  for  there  was  coasting  on 
the  hillsides,  skating  on  the  river,  eel- 
spearing  through  the  ice  over  the  mud- 
flats of  the  harbor,  and  plenty  of  duck 
shooting  within  the  inlets  of  the  sea 
shore.  Jim  had  his  sled  and  skates, 
his  spear  and  gun— provided  by  the 
Tanner's  thoughtfulness — and  short  was  the  time  required  to  make  him 
thoroughly  conversant  with  their  uses. 

There  was  nothing  more  to  be  done  at  the  tannery  for  the  winter,  and  Peg- 
gysis  stood  solemnly  idle  on  his  two  legs  with  full  permission  to  think  as  much 
as  he  pleased.  As  if  sympathizing  with  his  loneliness,  Jim  visited  him  occasion- 
ally, patted  him  on  his  square  head  and  earnestly  assured  him  that  when  the 
vats  thawed  out  and  the  flrwers  bloomed  again  he  should  creak  and  shake  and 
sweat  to  the  full  cont(        *  his  wooden  heart. 

166 


■h. 


166 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


During  the  forenoons  Jim  and  the  Tanner  kept  school  together — the  one  as 
scholar  and  the  other  as  tutor.  Jim  had  a  fast  growing  love  for  books  and  study, 
and  the  Tanner  had  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  keep  him  going.  He  intended 
to  give  him  a  good  start  in  the  rudiments  with  a  view  to  preparing  him  for  en- 
trance into  the  best  school  accessible. 

The  afternoons  were  spent  as  Jim  saw  fit,  the  Tanner  saying  he  could  be 
trusted  for  play  as  well  as  for  work.  Ruth  always  found  the  wood  box  full,  the 
water  pail  was  never  empty,  and  when  she  got  up  in  the  morning  the  rooms  were 
all  aglow  with  the  fires  and  ready  for  the  daily  living. 

Shang  and  his  flock  now  found  themselves  confined  to  the  roomy  shed,  where 
they  were  well  looked  after,  and  where  their  keeping  was  more  than  rewarded  by 
eggs  that  came  almost  as  regularly  as  if  the  hens  had  green  fields  to  disport 
themselves  in. 

Such  good  friends  had  Betty  and  the  boy  become,  she  always  mooed  when 
she  heard  the  sound  of  his  fo«^tsteps  crunching  through  the  snow.  When  he 
milked  her  she  did  her  level  best  to  let  down  all  the  milk  there  was  in  her. 
Towzer  was  Jim's  inseparable  companion  outdoors,  and  he  was  never  better 
satisfied  than  when  chasing  after  him  in  his  headlong  sled  rides  down  the 
steep  hills. 

Notwithstanding  Tom's  marriage,  Jim  occasionally  went  up  to  see  him, 
choosing  evenings  when  he  would  find  the  apples  roasting  on  the  hearth,  sweet 
cider  warming  in  the  chimney  corner  and  the  nuts  with  their  come-crack-me- 
quick  faces  grinning  at  him  from  the  blue  bowl  set  in  the  center  of  the  round, 
oaken  table. 

Hannah  always  "dropped  in"  in  time  to  participate  in  the  good  cheer.  After 
nut-cracking  time,  Tom  would  get  his  fiddle  down  and  squeak  out  some  lively, 
old-fashioned  jigs,  reels  and  strathspeys.  For  a  general  winding  up  Peggy  would 
solemnly  insist  upon  his  playing  "Old  Lennox,"  while  all  joined  in  singing 
the  verse: 

Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow. 
The  gladly  solemn  sound; 
Let  all  the  nations  know 
To  earth's  remotest  bound, 

The  Year  of  Jubilee  Is  come! 

Return  ye  ransomed  sinners  home. 

Tom's  voice  was  all  right  when  it  joined  in  the  singing,  but  when  the  fiddle 
came  to  that  tune  it  couldn't  stick  to  the  notes  to  save  itself,  and  went  dancing 
up  and  down  the  scales  as  if  desperately  intent  upon  getting  some  one  off  on  a 
jig  around  the  room.     Hannah  and  Peggy  closed  their  eyes  while  they  sang  and 


*v5f™ 


■■v;fr?>;«v 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


167 


quavered  to  and  fro  like  "'j  he  Last  Rose  of  Summer."  Jim  did  his  best  to 
follow  them,  yet,  however,  he  was  always  jumping  the  track  and  chasing  after 
the  runaway  notes  of  the  fiddle,  while  Tom  would  blink  at  him  in  such  a  way 
he  found  it  almost  impossible  to  keep  his  face  in  shape.  Those  were  evenings 
to  be  remembered,  and  Jim  never  forgot  them. 

Something  new  seemed  to  come  along  almost  every  week,  and  wnatever  it 
was  Jim  had  his  eyes  open  and  himself  ready  to  make  the  most  of  things. 

One  afternoon  Tom  drove  down  to  the  Tanner's  with  a  sled-load  of  hemlock 
bark.  After  the  sled  was  unloaded  the  Tanner  asked:  "When  are  you  going 
into  the  woods,  Tom?" 

"About  the  middle  of  December,"  was 
the  reply. 

"Well,  do  you  know  that  you  have  filled 
the  boy's  head  full  of  this  logging  camp  busi- 
ness, and  that  he  has  been  begging  me  to  let 
him  go  with  you?" 

"Then,  why  not  let  him  go?" 

"I  do  not  want  to  break  up  his  studies,  he 
is  doing  so  nicely." 

"But  it  isn't  all  in  the  books,  father,"  said 
Jim;  "there's  lots  to  be  learned  in  the 
woods,  specially  when  Mister  Tom's  eround. 
He  almost  ekels  you  in  gittin'  a  feller  up 
hill." 

"Better  let  him  go,"  pleaded  Tom,  per- 
suasively, "he  will  catch  up  in  his  studies 
fast  enough,  and  the  experience  in  the  woods 
will  do  him  good.  I  am  to  have  a  gang  of 
good  men,  you  know;  and  besides,  he  can  earn  a  few  pounds  for  spending 
money." 

"For  keepin  -money,  you  means,  Mister  Tom;  father  keeps  me  in  spendin' 
change,  an'  he  says  its  cos  I  kept  Peggysis  a  trottin'  so  reg'ler.  But  I  jist  aches 
to  my  marrer-bones  to  git  at  them  big  trees  I've  heerd  you  brag  on  so  much." 
"So  it  goes,"  said  the  Tanner,  laughing.  "When  you  two  put  your  heads 
together  there  is  no  withstanding  you.  If  Ruth  says  she  can  fit  you  out  so  that 
you  won't  freeze  to  death  you  may  go," 

And  before  the  words  had  grown  cold  Jim  was  on  his  legs  for  the  cottage  to 
get  Ruth's  opinion.     It  was  not  loag  before  he  came  back,  declaring  with  great 


SOMJi  LIVKLY  UL.U-FASH10NBD  JIGS. 


CPHpvsnpvnPiivr' 


168 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


giee:  "She  kin  rig  me  out  from  stem  to  starn,  an'  make  me  62  snug  an'  ez 
warm  ez  a  woodchuck  in  his  hole,  or  a  whale  in  his  blubber." 

When  the  starting  day  came  Jim  carried  with  him  his  skates,  his  gun  and  a 
brand  new  axe.  He  had  two  big,  fat,  canvas  bags;  one  filled  to  the  mouth  with 
provisions  and  the  other  stuffed  almost  to  bursting  with  blankets  and  quilts. 

While  packing  his  clothing  in  a  separate  bundle  he  found  a  pair  of  bright  red 
and  blue  wristlets,  which  Vi  had  knitted  and  requested  Ruth  to  hide  among  his 
things.  Jim  had  seen  her  knitting  them,  and  recognizing  them,  immediately  put 
them  on,  slyly  saying  to  Ruth  he  knew  "what  was  what." 

Ten  yoke  of  oxen,  ten  big  sleds,  two  loads  of  hay  and  twenty-five  men  and 
their  "traps"  made  the  procession  which  went  from  Milton  early  one  morning  in 
the  middle  of  December  for  Lake  Rossignol.  A  team  with  four  men  were  sent 
off  two  days  in  advance  to  make  the  logging  camp  ready  for  the  rest.  It  was 
twenty  mils  to  the  foot  of  the  lake,  and  they  did  not  make  the  camp  until  near 
night,  eight  miles  of  the  road  being  a  mere  wood  road  on  which  the  snow  lay 
thick  and  almost  unbroken. 

The  first  thing  Jim  noticed  was  a  long,  low  building  constructed  of  logs  rooted 
in  with  loose  lumber  and  deeply  banked  around  with  snow.  On  entering  the 
narrow  door  he  saw  a  big  fire  blazing  In  the  center  of  the  building,  the  smoke 
of  which  went  out  through  a  wide  opening  in  the  roof.  The  sides  of  the  building 
contained  bunks  arranged  one  above  another;  these  were  already  filled  with 
fresh  oat  straw,  and  needed  only  the  quilts  of  the  men  to  transform  them  Into 
comfortable  sleeping  places.  In  one  end  of  the  building,  not  far  from  the  fire, 
stood  a  big,  rough,  board  table,  on  which  a  smoking  supper  was  laid  for  the  tired 
and  hungry  men.  The  panting  cattle  were  cared  for  by  the  men  already  on 
the  ground,  in  a  long,  low,  slab  shed  built  for  that  purpose.  The  new-comers 
sat  down  at  the  supper  table  as  soon  as  they  could  unload  their  personal  property. 

Being  among  strangers,  Jim  was  inclined  to  be  shy,  until  he  discovered  that 
the  men  were  as  gentle  as  they  were  jovial,  and  that  they  were  evidently  inclined 
to  treat  him  as  well  as  if  he  had  been  born  among  them.  They  were  not  hired 
men  only,  but  good,  reputable  citizens  of  Milton,  who  had  clubbed  together  in 
the  logging  business,  and  were  accustomed  to  behaving  themselves  in  the  woods 
as  well  as  If  they  were  In  their  own  homes.  Sam  Freeman  was  the  only  boy 
among  them  besides  Jim;  as  the  two  were  already  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
each  other,  there  was  little  danger  of  either  of  them  suffering  from  loneliness. 

As  soon  as  the  homely  but  substantial  supper  ^as  dispatched,  the  men  began 
to  disappear  in  their  bunks,  each  one  having  a  bed  for  himself. 

Tom  insisted  upon  making  Jim's  bed  for  him,  inasmuch  as  it  was  his  first 


f. 


r 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


169 


night  In  a  logging  camp.  Talking  a  gunny  bag.  he  filled  it  with  straw  for  a  pillow; 
then  over  that  and  the  straw  of  the  bed  he  threw  a  heavy  woolen  blanket,  and 
after  bidding  Jim  to  "pile  In,"  he  threw  over  him  ^,  blanket  and  a  pair  of  heavy 
comforters.  He  finally  tucked  him  in  with  the  greatest  care  and  left  him  lo 
his  thoughts.  In  five  minutes  the  boy  was  fast  asleep,  and  so  was  Tom,  in  the 
bunk  next  below  him. 

If  Jim  had  remained  awake  long  enough  he  might  have  listened  to  a  log- 
ging camp  serenade,  given  by  a  band  consisting  of  a  dozen  sonorous  pieces, 
more  or  less.  Every  piece  was  similar  In  shape,  though  distinctly  different  in 
sound. 

The  Proboscis  Band  was  a  permanent  camp  institution,  yet  its  peculiarity 
was  that  it  could  never  play  unless  it  was  sound  asleep,  and  another  peculiarity 
was  the  fact  that  its  vibrant  music  was  seldom  heard,  for  the  reason  that  its 
auditors  were  always  sound  asleep,  saving  always  the  oxen,  owls  and  rabbits, 
whose  opinions  were  never  placed  on  record,  though  they  must  have  been  very 
definite. 

Tom  was  the  champion  soloist  of  the  band,  and  when  he  was  at  his  best  it 
was  difficult  to  tell  what  he  was  most  like,  a  regiment  of  tom-toms,  an  imitation 
of  Niagara,  or  an  echo  of  a  thunderstorm  among  the  Alps. 

Peggy  was  fond  of  singing: 

Then  let  the  hurricane  roar! 
It  wiU  the  sooner  be  o'er. 

But  the  words  never  came  true  concerning  her  husband's  part  In  the  Proboscis 
Band,  for  from  the  time  he  threw  himself  upon  his  straw  bed  to  the  time  he 
yawned  his  greetings  to  the  break  of  dawn,  his  throat  was  like  a  big  river  with  a 
suspension  bridge  thrown  across  it  for  an  aeolian  harp. 

When  Jim  got  up  the  snow  was  falling,  thus  adding  to  the  thick,  white 
blanket  already  covering  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  nine  inches.  With  shoes 
well  greased  with  mutton  tallow,  and  woollen  leggings  extending  to  the  knees,  he 
went  to  take  a  look  at  his  surroundings.  He  watched  the  great  flakes  sifting 
lazily  through  the  woods  like  miniature  fragments  of  a  sun-bleached  cloud  which 
had  suddenly  dropped  to  pieces.  The  shaggy-brown  tree  trunks  lifted  themselves 
in  striking  contrast  with  the  prevailing  white,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 
Here  and  there  a  deep  zig-zag  line  showed  where  the  rabbits  had  floundered 
through  the  snow.  Now  and  then  a  blue-jay  or  a  saucy  grose-beak  fluttered 
among  the  branches  and  scolded  while  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  filch  its 
breakfast  frdm  the  camp;  while  from  afar  came  the  croaking  of  a  rookery  of 
ravens.    Every  few  moments  a  loud  noise  was  heard  which  resembled  the  dls- 


'.^k&iai^ 


1 1  - 1  jiiJjuiTTOiaHsaK'stw.sBst'EC 


170 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


charge  of  small  firearms;  this  was  caused  by  the  cracking  of  Ice  on  Rossingnol 
from  the  intensity  of  the  cold. 

Missing  Jim,  and  fearing  that  his  venturesomeness  might  lead  him  too  far 
Into  the  woods,  Tom  followed  up  his  tracks  until  he  found  nim. 
"Well,  Jim.  what  do  you  think  of  it?"  he  asked. 

"Ef  we  only  had  lots  of  sugar  to  sweeten  the  snow,  an'  a  plenty  of  cream  to 
make  it  slick,  an'  a  slice  of  summer  to  make  us  sweat,  we  might  have  a  reg'ler 
ice-cream  blow  out  all  to  ourselves." 
"Why.  that's  a  genuine  Irish  bull!" 

"What's  that.  Mister  Tom?" 
"It  is  putting  things  together  that  can't  go 
together  anyway.     How  can  you  get  snow 
and  summer  time  together?" 

"But  when  a  feller  gits  to  wishin'  he  don't 
have  to  stick  to  sense,  does  he?"  And 
Jim's  face  looked  so  rosy  and  healthy,  and 
his  eyes  shone  with  such  a  bright,  happy  light 
that  Tom  couldn't  help  looking  at  him  in 
admiration. 

Their  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a 
long,  loud  cry  which  so  startled  Jim,  Tom 
had  to  explain  that  it  was  the  call  for  break- 
fast blown  through  a  trumpet  made  of  birch 
bark. 

"It's  ernough  to  take  all  the  appertite 
outen  a  pig,  an'  sounds  wussen  a  dyin'  seal, 
an'  that's  wussen  anything  else  I  kin  think  uv." 
"But  1  think  we  can  manage  our  part  of 
the  breakfast  nevertheless,"  said  Tom,  who  was  always  able  to  do  his  share  of 
eating,  excepting  when  he  was  on  the  sea. 

The  fare  consisted  of  coffee  without  milk,  sweetened  with  brown  sugar; 
bread  and  butter  with  roasted  smoked  herrings  and  cold  corned  beef  served  up 
with  potatoes  boiled  in  their  jackets.  And  for  that  first  morning,  as  a  special 
luxury,  they  indulged  in  fresh  cookies  and  ginger  bread. 

These  plain  meals  were  occasionally  varied  by  a  rabbit  stew,  or  a  rasher  of 
bacon,  or  a  steak,  or  a  beef  stew,  the  men  having  brought  with  them  two  quarters 
of  beef,  which  were  hung  up  where  they  couldn't  thaw. 

"Now,  Jim,  you  are  in  for  your  first  log,"  remarked  Tom,  after  breakfast, 


PUTTING  ON  FINAL  TOUCHES. 


TT 


i| 


TW  r 


"^fpw^w^ppwp 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


171 


"and  as  I  am  the  boss  of  the  camp,  I  must  pick  your  tree  for  you  and  teach  you 
how  to  bring  it  down.     I  am  going  to  set  you  at  the  biggest,  tallest  and  finest 
pine  I  can  find.     And  you  must  remember  that  every  log  you  cut  while  you  are 
In  here  with  me  is  to  be  your  own." 
"For  sartin  sure?" 
"Yes,  for  certain  sure." 

"But  what'll  I  do  with  'em  when  I  gits  'em  down?" 

"We  will  see  to  that  when  the  proper  time  comes.     Never  cross  a  bridge 
till  you  get  to  it.     The  first  thing 
for  you  to  do  is  to  see  that  your  new 
axe  has  a  good  edge  to  it." 

The  axe  only  needed  a  whetting 
to  put  it  in  good  shape,  and  as  Jim 
had  already  learned  the  art  of  sharp- 
ening edged  tools,  Tom  was  saved 
the  trouble  of  instructing  him. 

"There  she  is.  keen  ernough  to 
shave  you,  Mister  Tom,"  declared 
Jim,  after  putting  the  final  touches 
to  the  glistening  blade  and  running 
his  thumb  lightly  along  the  edge  to 
test  it. 

Tom  took  the  axe  and  after  ex- 
amining it  critically,  handed  it  back, 
saying:  "That  will  do  first  rate  for 
a  first  edge  on  a  first  tree.' 

Jim  hoisted  the  axe  on  his  shoul- 
der, but  Tom  said  it  would  never  do  - 
for  him  to  carry  it  that  way.     In  go- 
ing through  the  snow  he  might  stum-  ..  ,^^ 
ble,  or  get  a  fall,  and  then  he  would  '  %'^'^' 
be  in  danger  of  a  severe  cut.     He  -^^'s  '"™st  tree. 
must  take  it  in  his  right  hand  edge  downward,  and  even  then  must  be  careful 
how  he  stepped.     There  was  no  surgeon  in  the  woods  and,  therefore,  a  wound 
was  not  a  desirable  thing  to  have  around. 

After  walking  some  distance  from  the  camp  they  came  to  a  cluster  of  big  pines, 
which  were  singing  in  the  wind  all  unmindful  of  the  dangers  threatening  them. 
"Here's  your  tree,  Jim,"  and  Tom  selected  the  largest  of  the  group.    And 


Q.^iul|)Cu£.i 


172 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


a  magnificent  monarch  it  was,  too!  Not  less  than  three  and  a  half  feet  through 
the  butt,  straight  as  a  mast  and  not  a  knot  nor  a  branch  for  nearly  a  hundred 
feet,  and  good  for  four  as  handsome  logs  96  ever  floated  down  stream,  or  were 
put  to  the  teeth  of  a  mill  saw. 

"Now  pull  off  your  jacket  my  boy,  and  show  what  a  Yankee  lad  can  do 
among  the  Bluenose  pines." 

Jim  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  taking  his  axe,  spat  on  his  hands  and  was 
reaciy  for  business. 

"But  hold  on  there,  old  fellow!  We  must  study  a  little  before  we  give  her  her 
first  cut,"  almost  snouted  Tom,  as  Jim  made  a  haphazard  cut  into  the  tree. 

"How  is  she  going  tc  fall?  That  is  a  very  important  question.  If  she  falls 
this  way,  she'll  strike  that  stump  over  yonder  and  break  her  back  and  so  spoil  a 
whole  log  for  you.  If  she  falls  that  way,  she'U  strike  that  big  pine  and  lodge, 
and  there  will  be  dangerous  work  in  coaxing  her  down," 

"Ah,  here  we  Iiave  it!  Look  in  this  direction;  not  a  stump  nor  a  tree  to 
interfere!     Here  she  will  fall  as  prettily  as  a  ripe  plum." 

"Take  her  now  on  the  side  opposite  to  that  on  which  she  Is  to  fall,  and  begin 
your  cut  about  two  feet  from  the  roots.  Cut  her  straight  as  a  square  on  fhe 
lower  inning,  and  slanting  as  you  please  on  the  upper. 

"She  will  soon  begin  to  show  you  a  nice  white  mouth,  which  you  must  keep 
opening  untill  you  reach  her  throat;  and  then  you  must  give  her  another  opening 
on  the  opposite  side." 

Jim  began  at  the  tree  as  if  he  intended  to  have  it  down  in  short  order,  but 
Tom  called  out:  "Not  so  fast  there,  or  you  will  lose  your  wind  before  you  have 
so  much  as  nicked  her  bark;  slow  and  sure  is  the  word  here.  That's  it,  a  slow, 
regular  swing.     1'"  <»ive  you  ja:-t  one  hour  to  set  her  trembling." 

The  chips  wert  .lOw  flying  right  and  left,  and,  once  through  the  thick  outer 
covering  of  brown  bark,  Jim  wept  into  the  yellowish  white  of  the  tree  deeper  and 
deeper. 

While  hip  blows  were  echoing  through  the  forest,  Tom  said:  "She  is  sing- 
ing, 'Good-bye,  good-bye  old  roots!  Our  time  has  come  though  we  have  stuck 
together  a  hundred  years  or  more.'  " 

His  pe.isive  manner  so  affected  Jim  that  he  ceased  chcv)|:ing  and  answered 
back:  "Why,  Mister  Tom,  you  makes  me  feel  as  if  I  was  doin'  sunthin' 
wrong." 

"To  be  sure!  What  am  I  thinking  of!  That  isn't  what  she  is  saying  at 
all.  Hurry  up,  hurry  up!  There  are  folks  to  be  married,  and  children  to  be 
taken  care  of,  and  houses  to  be  built,  and  1  am  the  pine  that  Is  wanted;  so  hurry 


,  ) : 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


173 


the  chips  and  down  with  me  quick,  and  let  me  go  into  the  world.'  That  is  the 
song  she  is  singing." 

And  Jim  went  to  chopping  again,  thinking  the  while  that  Mr.  Tom  almost 
beat  the  Tanner  at  bossing. 

When  the  cut  passed  the  heart  of  the  tree,  Tom  said:  "Now  rest  your  axe 
a  little  and  give  it  time  to  cool,  and  when  you  begin  again,  tackle  her  on  the 
other  side." 

Jim  had  become  so  much  interested  in  his  work  he  could  not  content  him- 
self to  rest  long,  and  after  a  few  moments  his  blows  resounded  from  the  other 
side  of  the  tree. 

"Steady  there,  now,"  cautioned  Tom,  sharly,  when  Jim  had  cut  about  a  foot 
toward  the  center.  Surveying  his  work  for  an  instant,  he  added:  "Now  give 
her  a  couple  of  blows  at  each  corner  of  her  chops,  and  then  stand  clear." 

The  blows  were  given  as  directed,  and  were  immediately  followed  by  a 
grinding,  crackling  noise  among  the  fibers  of  the  wood,  causing  the  two  to  hasten 
to  the  other  side  of  the  trunk  and  to  some  distance  away  from  it,  Tom  the  while 
shoutmg:     "There  she  goes,  and  now  look  out  for  splinters!" 

The  great  tree  .,  ^wly  swayed,  then,  suddenly  snapping  the  wood  remaining 
uncut,  increasing  its  downward  speed  until,  crashing  through  obstructing  branches, 
it  fell  to  the  ground  with  the  noise  of  thunder,  breaking  its  own  iimbs  into  thou- 
sands of  fragments  which  flew  about  in  every  direction. 

In  that  region,  and  at  the  time  we  wr'te  of,  the  lumbermen  depended  upon 
their  stalwart  arms  for  the  trimming  oi  thtir  logs,  so  that  by  the  time  Jim  had 
cut  his  tree  Into  four  equal  lengths,  scaled  the  bark  away  and  marked  each  one, 
the  best  part  of  three  days  had  vanished. 

But  they  were  such  handsome  logs,  he  was  very  proud  of  them.  The  big- 
gest he  named  Ruth,  the  second  he  called  Vi,  the  third  Hannah,  and  the  last, 
which  tapered  off  the  most,  he  named  Peggy. 

In  due  time  the  chains  were  hltcher'.  to  them  and  they  were  drawn  to  the 
shore,  where  they  were  canthooked  upon  the  Ice  and  left  to  await  the  spring 
freshets  and  the  log  drive. 

Tom  held  himself  strictly  responsible  for  Jim's  safety,  and  would  not  permit 
him  to  attack  a  tree  unless  he  was  near  to  w'tch  his  every  movement.  Nor  would 
he  let  him  work  too  steadily,  for  log  cutting  was  severe  work  for  one  so  young. 

Sam  Freeman  was  well  acquainted  v'ith  "he  woods,  and  a  handy  fellow  at 
snaring  rabbits,  and  as  rabbit  pies  and  rabbit  stews  made  a  welcome  change  in 
the  diet  of  the  camp,  the  two  boys  were  allowed  to  go  rabbittlng  whenever  they 
were  so  disposed. 


■Pft 


174 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


During  the  continuance  of  tlie  deep  snows,  the  rabbits  fed  mainly  upon  the 
smaller  branches  of  the  birches  which  were  bent  toward  the  earth.  The  par- 
ticular birch  they  had  a  partiality  for  was  the  cinnamon,  whose  twigs  were  sweet 
and  nutritious. 

The  young  hunters  would  find  a  p'ace  where  the  runs  were  thickest,  and 
there  form  a  circle  of  brushes  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  the  fir  and  spruce 
fences  being  built  to  the  height  of  twelve  or  fourteen  inches.  In  the  circles 
there  were  gaps  left  open  where  the  wire  snares  were  placed.     They  then  cut 

down  young  cinnamon  birches  and  threw 
them  into  the  center  of  the  circle. 
When  the  rabbits  came  out  in  the  night 
to  make  their  runs  in  search  of  food, 
they  scented  the  freshly  cut  birch,  and 
seeking  entrance  through  the  apparently 
safe  openings,  they  found  themselves 
caught  in  the  deceitful  loops  that  stran- 
gled them  to  death. 

The  boys  not  infrequently  brought  in 
ten  or  fifteen  rabbits  from  a  single 
night's  catch,  and  as  the  Nova  Scotia 
rabbits  are  large,  one  catch  was  suf- 
ficient to  make  a  mess  .'or  the  whole 
camp. 

The  furs  were  thick  and  as  white  as 
driven  snow,  and  Tom,  who,  as  a  bach- 
elor, was  handy  at  almost  everything 
useful,  selected  several  of  the  best  pelts, 
and  after  curing  them  by  salting,  scrap- 
ing and  smoking  them  over  a  smudge 
fire,  made  Jim  a  fur  cap  and  muffler  that  made  his  ears  proof  against  the  frost 
when  the  mercury  fell  .0  thirty  degrees  below  zero,  and  the  trees  creaked  and 
cracked  and  the  bushes  and  low  shrubbery  sang  resonantly  at  every  passing 
breath  of  wind. 

"When  I  gits  these  things  on,"  declared  Jim,  "my  ears  is  so  warm  it  'pears 
like  ez  ef  they  muS|  up  an'  grow  like  sparrer-grass  in  summer  thne,  an'  that 
kfnder  frightens  me.  for  I  don't  want  no  mule's  ears  growin'  unner  my  cap. 
They's  plenty  big  ernou^  already." 

•Never  fear,  my  boy,"  responded  Tom,  "it  takes  a  donkey  head  to  grow 


KBPT  THS  OAMP  IN  RABBITS. 


do 
no 
th( 
bit 
tin 

go 
let 
th( 


.^f:::i^^^sM 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


!7o 


donkey's  ears,  and  there  Is  so  little  of  that  kind  of  head  on  your  shoulders  that 
not  even  Old  Cud's  furnace  applied  as  a  hot-house  could  force  your  ears  from 
their  present  handsome  proportions.  But  I  don't  want  your  ears  to  get  frost- 
bitten; there's  lots  of  good  things  to  be  heard  in  this  world  in  the  course  of  a  life 
time,  and  you  must  save  them  for  that." 

"But  there's  sich  lots  o'  mean  an'  sneakin'  things  slippin*  eround,  how  is  you 
gonter  to  keep  'em  out,  Mister  Tom?" 

••Just  open  the  folding  doors  between  the  ears,  and  what  comes  in  at  one  ear 
let  the  will  kick  out  of  the  other  ear." 

"So's  it  can't  git  no  chance  to  go  to  bed  in  your  memory  an'  leave  its  fleas 
there,"  added  Jim,  much  to  Tom's  surprise  and  gratification. 


n 


■  .WW  WIJ'J^PP.,.  >.«M'.W«IIW- ' 


\ma-xiX: 


A   PALPABL.K   HIT. 

AKE  Rossignol  lies  at  the  head  of  the 
Liverpool  River,  is  about  twelve  miles 
long,  and  in  some  places  fully  eight 
miles  wide.  The  lake  abounds  in 
islands  of  every  shape  and  size,  from 
the  grizzly  rock,  bearing,  perhaps,  a 
single  stunted  pine  shaggy  with  moss, 
to  stretches  of  land  a  mile  in  length, 
thickly  wooded  with  maple,  beech, 
birch  and  many  kinds  of  evergreen. 
Deeply  indented  coves,  picturesque 
piles  of  rocks,  secluded  patches  of 
meadow,  and  entrancing  bits  of  sand 
beaches,  make  it  one  of  the  prettiest 
spots  hidden  away  In  the  Nova  Scotian 
woods. 

When  Jim  saw  it,  it  was  covered 

with  a  thick  shield  of  ice,  Its  shores 

were   rounded  under  banks  of  snow; 

many  of  the  evergreens,  and  much  of  the 

underbrush,  were  brilliant  with  pendent  icicles,  while  the  "bald-headed  trees' 

-  as  Jim  called  those  that  had  been  stripped  of  their  foliage-  threw  their  finely 

spraying  branches  against  the  clear  air  like  vagrant  lines  drawn  in  delicate  purple. 

Jim  revelled  in  the  winter  scenery,  which  was  so  new  to  his  observing  eyes. 

Tan  Pile  Jim  12  177 


178 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


and  as  the  winds  kept  large  portions  of  the  ice  clear  of  snow,  he  delighted  to 
buckle  on  his  skates — old-fashioned  skates  strapped  to  the  feet  and  ankles-— 
and  race  with  Sam  Freeman  among  the  islands  and  coves. 

Returning  from  one  of  these  excursions  one  Saturday  afternoon,  his  face 
aglow  with  healthy  exercise  and  heart  alive  with  enthusiasm,  he  said  to  Tom. 
while  he  was  unbuckling  his  skates:  "I  don't  want  no  dreams  shuffling  around 
my  bunk  ez  long  ez  I've  got  this  'ere  lake  to  wink  at  with  my  eyes  wide 
open." 

Tom  never  tired  of  the  beauties  of  Rossignol,  and  felt  like  patting  Jim  for 
his  praise  of  his  favorite  lake. 

"Wait  till  she  wakes  up,  my  boy!"  said  he.  -'Wait  till  she  throws  off  her 
counterpane — winterpane,  I  mean — and  lets  her  hair  out  of  her  curl  papers  and 
begins  to  pUt  on  her  summer  dress  and  jewelry,  and  gets  the  soft  clouds  in  her 
cheeks  and  the  blue  sky  in  her  eyes,  and  the  water  lilies,  arrow-heads  and  wild 
flowers  at  the  bottom  of  her  skirts!  When  you  see  her  with  the  mossy  banks 
at  her  feet  and  the  bosky  groves  at  her  back,  you'll  see  the  birds  falling  in  love 
with  her,  and  the  little  brooks  and  streams  running  singingly  toward  her  from 
every  direction,  tumbling  over  the  rocks  and  down  the  hills  and  crawling  under 
the  dead  trees,  in  their  hurry  to  get  near  enough  to  kiss  her." 

Jim  looked  at  Tom  in  astonishment  while  he  was  rattling  off  this  rhapsody, 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  done,  he  exclaimed:  "My  gracious  pertaters.  Mister 
Tom!     You  must  be  thinkin'  erbout  Peggy  an'  Hannah  in  their  Sunday  best!" 

Tom  looked  so  queer,  and  burst  into  such  an  uproarious  laugh,  that  Jim  felt 
In  duty  bound  to  make  another  guess,  and  so  he  said:  "Leastwise,  you've  been 
lickln'  into  Sir  Walter  Scott,  that  ere  book  what  father  histed  me  into  when  he 
found  I  could  write  jingles.  It's  the  greatest  book  for  sich  things  ez  you've  jist 
been  sayin'  I  ever  did  see.     Like  ernough  you  write  po'tiy  yourself  sometimes-" 

But  Tom  only  laughed  the  louder  at  the  idea  of  his  writing  poetry,  though  he 
managed  to  say:  "Why,  Jim,  I  couldn't  write  poetry — no,  not  a  line- if  you 
were  to  set  me  on  a  steam  boiler  and  tell  me  to  write  or  bust.  Wish  I  could, 
with  all  my  heart,  though,  I'd  write  a  poem  as  long  as  the  dictionary,  and  all 
about  sweet  Rossignol,  the  blue-eyed  queen  that  beats  them  all." 

"Lo'd  a  mussy,  Mister  Tom!  What  do  you  call  that!  Don't  you  know  the 
jingles  is  droppln'  outen  you  this  very  blessed  minnit  like  drops  o'  lasses  outen  a 
lasses  bar' I?" 

"What  do  you  mean?"     And  Tom  affected  great  innocence. 

"  'All  about  sweet  RosBignol  I 
The  blue-eyed  queeu  that  beats  them  alll 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


179 


Now,  what  does  you  call  that?"     And  Jim  repeated  the  words  as  proudly  as  if 
he  had  just  discovered  a  diamond  of  the  first  water. 

Tom's  face  was  a  study  as  he  drew  near  Jim  and  almost  whispered:  "Look 
here,  my  boy;  don't  you  ever  say  anything  about  that  to  either  Peggy  or  Hannah, 
for  they  have  heard  of  your  poetry,  and  they  will  say  that  I  have  been  try.ng  to 
Imitate  you,  and  imitations  are  generally  poor  affairs,  you  know." 

"But  you  knows  I  can't  make  po'try,  no  more'n  a  shark  kin  play  on  a  jews- 
harp,  or  a  whale  on  a  church  organ.  I  feels  mighty  like  it,  though,  when  I  goes 
cavortin'  among  these  islands  an'  coves  on  my  skates.  What's  the  reason  a 
feller  can't  snake  his  thoughts  out  an'  make  'em  ez  nice  outside  ez  they  is 
inside?" 

"Bless  my  soul,  Jim!  You'll  set  me  crying,  if  you  don't  stop!  You  have 
got  a  spirit  as  beautiful  as  Rossignol  itself!"  And  Tom  so  faltered  in  his  voice 
and  moistened  in  his  eyes.  Jim  looked  at  him  in  amazement,  and  became  the 
least  bit  shaky  himself. 

"When  it's  summer  will  you  fetch  me  up  here,  so  I  kin  see  the  lake  with 
her  eyes  open  an'  her  parlor  rig  on?"  he  next  asked,  looking  over  the  lake 
wistfully. 

"That  I  will!"  exclaimed  Tom,  heartily.  '*And  I'll  fetch  Namaquit  with 
me"  (referring  to  his  pet  canoe),  "and  we  will  put  in  a  whole  week  here  and 
canoe  it  through  every  nook  and  corner.  There's  lots  of  trout  up  here,  if  you 
only  know  where  to  find  them." 

This  was  enough  for  Jim's  excitable  nature,  and  he  turned  somersault  after 
somersault,  and  with  such  rapidity,  the  snow  flew  about  him  as  if  he  were  a 
miniature  cyclone  playing  bo-peep  among  the  solemn  trees  of  the  forest. 

"Look  here,  old  fellow!  If  you  keep  that  up  much  longer  you  won't  know 
which  end  to  stand  on!  "  shouted  Tom,  more  than  half  alarmed  at  the  boy's  antics. 

"Right  side  up  with  keer,  sir!"  And  Jim  came  to  his  feet  with  a  bound  and 
began  to  brush  the  snow  from  his  clothes,  his  eyes  the  while  twinkling  like  a 
pair  of  stars  out  of  the  twilight  blue.  The  very  idea  of  a  summer  trip  around 
the  shores  of  Rossignol  in  the  Namaquit,  with  Tom  and  the  rods,  and  the  gun 
and  Towzer  along,  was  enough  to  make  a  stump  jump,  let  alone  a  full-blooded 
Yankee  boy  made  up  of  chipmunks  and  canaries. 

"My,  my,  my!"  he  exclaimed,  over  and  over  again,  "hain't  I  glad  I  fetched 
up  on  that  ol'  tan  pile!" 

The  next  Saturday  afternoon  Jim  again  strapped  on  his  skates  and  started 
off  intending  to  i.iake  a  long  cruise  among  the  coves  and  islands. 

As  Tom  watched  him  getting  ready,  he  said:     "Going  alone?" 


.■j(i^ 


.,  .;-^::.u^..,,..........A,.^,i^^ 


180 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Yis.  I  likes  to  git  erione  sometimes,  for  then  I  feels  ez  ef  I  owned  a  hunk 
uv  creation  all  to  myself." 

"  Take  good  care  of  yourself,  and  don't  get  into  any  of  the  air  holes.  Don't 
go  too  far  among  the  islands;  there  are  so  many  of  them,  you  may  lose  your 
landmarks.  And  if  you  go  into  the  coves,  remember  they  are  so  crooked  it  is 
the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to  get  your  head  turned  without  knowing  it." 

"But  hasn't  you  told  me  that  the  trees  lean  toward  the  south,  an'  that  the 
moss  grows  most  on  the  south  side  on  'em;  an'  that  the  big  rocks  pint  mostly  to 

the  east;  an'  that  the  snow  has  piled  itself 
agin  the  north  side  o'  the  islands,  an'  what 
hasn't  fetched  up  there  has  blowed  over  to 
the  south  side  o'  the  lake?" 

"You  have  got  it  all,  like  a  book." 
"Then  how  kin  I   lose  the  pints  uv  the 
compass,  when  all  that  you  tells  me  is  ez 
I  true  ez  "Postle  Peter?"    ' 

The  wind  was  blowing. swiftly  up  the  lake, 
^      T^^^^^^lk.  driving  before  it  a  flurry  of  fine  snow.    Jim 

n    '  ^(fflBlkJTOffl^^  spread  his  jacket  like  a  sail,  and,  standing 

stiffly  erect,  was  soon  blown  from  Tom's 
sight  as  if  he  were  a  feather  or  a  bit  of 
wandering  cloud. 

Tom  went  back  to  camp,  saying  to  him- 
self: "There  is  some  mystery  connected 
with  that  boy's  life.  He  is  made  of  no 
common  stuff.  Tan  pile,  or  no  tan  pile,  a 
brighter,  better  boy  never  walked  in  shoe 
leather." 

In  less  than  an  hour  Jim  unexpectedly 
hobbled  into  camp  with  his  skates  still  on. 
and  otherwise  showing  signs  of  great  excitement.  "I've  seed  him!"  he 
exclaimed,  breathlessly.  .    . 

••Who?"  asked  Tom. 
•'The  critter!" 
••What  critter?" 

••A  hull  live  moose  rigged  on  four  legs  bigger'n  life,  and  the  blamed  thing 
,  stood  higher'n  a  hoss." 

•  Guess  not,"  said  one  of  the  men,  incredulously. 


•■I'TB  SEED  him! 


a 
r 


a 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


181 


'But  can't  you  see  that  my  eyes  is  allermost  pulled  outen  my  head,  he  was 
so  all-fired  big,"  retorted  Jim,  indignantly,  not  liking  to  have  his  word  ques- 
tioned by  anyone. 

"Get  your  breath,  and  then  tell  us  all  about  it,"  said  Tom,  who  knew  that 
the  boy  was  telling  the  truth. 

"Well,  I  went  into  one  uv  them  coves  ahind  big  MIcmacmet  Island,  an'  w'ile 
I  was  a  flippin'  eround  Silver  Rock  a  wishin'  it  was  silver  an'  all  belonged  to 
mother,  I  heerd  a  brook  a  singin'  unner  the  ice,  like  a  bird  unner  a  bed-quilt; 


'll^r'iijii'll'    / 


'  I  I'   .1 


••«;// 


'f'V 


JIM  SBfiiS  A  MOOSB. 


Wk , 


an'  it  sounded  so  pretty  I  skated  up  to  it.  an'  crawled  up  by  a  big,  overhangin' 
rock,  an'  sot  down  so's  I  could  taKe  my  fill  o'  listenin'.  An'  while  I  sot  there, 
ez  still  ez  ef  I  was  an  icercle.  I  heerd  a  cracklin'  in  the  bushes.  Fust  I  thought 
it  must  be  a  bear,  an'  I  felt  kind  o'  creepy-like.  Then  I  remembered  you  told 
me  that  bears  was  too  lazy  to  git  up  in  wlnte ',  an'  that  they  jist  snoozed  all 
winter  witn  their  paws  in  their  mouth.  Then  there  was  a  great  bustin'  noise, 
an'  when  I  peeked  eround  the  rock,  there  was  a  moose  ez  big  ez  the  levierthan 
what  Job  couldn't  hook  in  the  nose.  He  had  a  hull  bone-yard  on  his  head,  an' 
he  was  smashin'  a  place  through  the  ice  to  drink.     He  looked  so  funny,  with  his 


182 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


big  horns  an'  his  little  squab  uv  a  tail,  I  snickered  right  out.  With  that  he  gave 
a  snort,  an'  galloped  off  like  a  whale  on  fouj  legs.  He's  left  his  tracks  ahind, 
an'  so  I  jist  scooted  back  here  to  see  ef  you  can't  go  an'  ketch  up  with  him. 
He'd  make  meat  ernough  for  all  winter,  'thout  Sam  an'  me  gittin'  any  more 
rabbits."  . 

"Did  you  notice  his  tracks?"  asked  one  of  the  men. 

'  Yis,  an'  they  was  jist  like  ox  tracks;  only  there  was  a  place  what  looked  ez 
ef  there'd  been  more  on  'em  round." 

"Then  we  need  be  In  no  hurry,"  remarked  Tom.  "There's  a  moose-yard 
in  that  vicinity,  and  Monday  we  will  give  the  day  to  It  and  have  a  regular  moose 
hunt.  It  is  thawing  a  little  now,  and  if  it  should  freeze  again  before  Monday,  we 
shall  have  a  fine  crust  for  snow-shoe  work." 

Sunday  night,  the  wind  that  had  been  bloving  from  the  south  shifted  round  to 
the  northwest,  bringing  with  it  a  cold  snap,  which  formed  a  crust  on  the  snow 
that  was  nearly  an  inch  thick;  and  on  Monday,  four  of  the  men,  under  Tom's 
lead,  made  eager  preparations  for  a  moose  hunt.  Jim  wanted  to  be  of  the 
party,  but  Tom  doubted  the  propriety  of  taking  him.  "If  the  moose  should  hap- 
pen to  turn  to  bay  you  might  get  hurt,"  said  he  to  Jim. 

"I  reckon  I  kin  beat  a  moose  with  my  snow  shoes  on.  cos  the  moose' 11  have 
to  slump  through  every  time,  while  I  kin  slide  erlong  on  top  like  a  Jack-on-a- 
sled." 

"Let  him  go,"  pleaded  big  Sam  Ford;  "he's  liverlier  on  those  pins  of  his 
than  all  the  rest  of  us  put  together,  and  his  head  Is  longer  than  any  moose's  head 
I  ever  saw." 

So  Jim  went  with  the  hunters,  and  Towzer  went  with  Jim. 

When  the  trail  was  reached,  Tom  pronounced  it  a  regular  run,  and  Sam  ex- 
plained to  Jim  that  a  "moose-run"  was  a  path  beaten  by  the  moose  through  the 
snow  to  give  them  access  to  their  drinking  and  feeding  grounds  among  the  high 
sedge  or  the  low  birches;  and  that  a  "yard"  meant  a  place  where  they  bunched 
together  for  warmth  and  self-protection  during  the  severe  weather. 

Gliding  rapidly  over  the  crusted  snow  with  their  snow  shoes,  the  hunters  made 
such  rapid  progress  after  they  struck  the  trail  that  It  soon  became  very  "hot,"  to 
use  a  hunter's  phrase.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  they  struck  the  "yard,"  from  which, 
however,  the  moose  had  fled,  their  keen  scent  having  enabled  them  to  detect  the 
presence  of  their  foes,  notwithstanding  the  extreme  precautions  taken. 

Each  moose  had  struck  out  for  Itself.  The  hunters  divided  themselves  into 
two  parties.  Tom  and  Sam  Ford,  together  with  Jim  and  Towzer,  followed  the 
trail  for  two  hours.     The  bloody  stains  upon  the  snow  showed  that  the  sharp 


i..:i,.j.ii,,:jf.fi.>i,. 


-V 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


183 


edges  of  the  crust  had  made  bad  work  for  the  shins  of  the  fleeing  moose.    Flecks 
of  foam  here  and  there,  also  showed  that  the  game  was  well-nigh  exhausted. 

Suddenly  Towzer,  breaking  through  all  restraint,  dashed  away,  and  a  moment 
afterward  was  heard  violently  barking  some  distance  ahead. 

Tom  was  at  the  right.  Jim  in  the  middle,  and  Sam  Ford  on  the  left,  when 
they  came  in  full  sight  of  a  large  bull  moose  which  had  turned  to  bay  and  stood 
facing  the  dog  with  lowered  antlers. 

It  had  been  agreed   between  Tom  and  Ford  that,  inasmuch   as  Jim   was 
the  first  to  discover  the  presence  of  the 
game,  he  should  have  the  honor  of  the 
first  shot,  hit  or  miss. 

"Steady,  boy!  And  aim  midway  his 
left  shoulder,"  directed  Tom,  as  Jim 
instinctively  levelled  his  rifle  with  the 
precision  and  firmness  of  an  old  hand. 
But  before  the  words  were  completely 
out  of  his  mouth,  bang  went  the  rifle, 
and  down  went  the  moose  to  his  knees. 

"Magnificent!' ' exclaimed  Tom,  with 
delight.  "But  look  out!  There  he 
comes!"  he  continued,  for  the  moose 
rose  again  and  lunged  madly  forward 
toward  the  hunters. 

Tom  and  Sam  Ford  fired  simultane- 
ously, and  the  moose  fell  dead.  Ford 
sprang  forward,  and  drawing  his  hunter's  \h, 
knife  across  the  throat  of  the  still  pal- 
pitating beast,  deluged  the  glistening 
snow  with  a  torrent  of  red. 

"Why  Jim,  your  shot  would  have 
killed  him  if  not  another  shot  had  been  fired,"  cried  Tom,  after  examining  the 
wounds  of  the  moose. 

"But  how  does  you  know  that,  Mister  Tom?"  asked  Jim,  unable  to  think 
himself  capable  of  bringing  down  such  a  pile  of  flesh  as  that  which  lay  before 
him. 

"Because  your  rifle  is  a  new  one  and  carries  a  smaller  ball  than  our  old- 
fashioned  weapons,  "  'Jim  Payzant.  His  mark!'  there  it  is  as  plain  as  the  bark 
upon  a  pine  tree."     And  Tom  pointed  out  the  difference  in  the  diameters  of  the 


AT  BAY. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


111 


1^    12.2 


B4      inn^ 

1.8 


U    i  1.6 


V] 


v^ 


/^J^? 

^  ^ 


ICi^ 


184 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


holes  made  through  the  skin.  "That  smallest  one  is  yours,  and  It  gave  the  fatal 
wound  The  others  were  good  shots,  but  the  moose  is  -your  meat,'  as  the  say- 
ing is." 

"Pertater  sprouts  an'  onion  tops!"  exclaimed  Jim,  in  great  excitement.  "Ef 
I  tells  that  yarn  to  father,  he'll  think  I've  been  schoolin'  with  Annernias  or  some 
other  India-rubber  feller." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it!  The  skin  is  yours,  and  the  hole  tells  its  own  story,  and  if 
that  isn't  enough,  we'll  go  before  Squire  Seely  and  Vi  and  make  affidavit  to  it." 

At  the  mention  of  Vi's  name,  Jim  colored  to  the  edges  of  his  rabbit-skin 
cap.  But  not  to  be  diverted  from  the  business  in  hand  by  the  queer  feelings  he 
experienced  under  his  red  flannel  shirt,  he  said:  "Now,  we've  got  him,  what  on 
airth  shall  we  do  with  him?" 

"Skin  him  before  he  grows  cold,  cut  him  up  before  he  freezes  and  hang  him 
up  to  a  tree,  and  camp  by  him  until  we  can  get  the  big  hand-sled  to  take  him 
back  with  us." 

"And  I'm  the  feller  what's  to  go  for  the  sled." 

"But  do  you  think  you  could  find  your  way?"  asked  Tom. 

"I  reckon.  Towzer  an'  me  kin  git  there  ez  easy  ez  ef  we  was  eatin'  roast 
beef  an'  plum  puddin'." 

"I  know  this  ridge  of  land;  it's  only  a  mile  from  the  lake,  and  when  you  get 
there,  all  you  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  strike  from  headland  to  headland  until 
you  strike  camp.  Ford  and  I  will  stay  here  and  make  ready  for  your  return,  for 
we  shall  have  to  remain  all  night.  Bring  the  small  teapot  with  you,  a  pair  of 
comforters,  a  loaf  of  bread  and  a  bit  of  tea  and  sugar,  and  then  we  can  get 
through  the  night  in  Governor  General  style." 

Jim  had  no  trouble  in  complying  with  the  directions,  and  before  the  sun  sank 
behind  the  great  pines  in  the  west,  he  was  at  Tom's  side  again,  saying  proudly: 
"Here  we  are  agin,  with  all  the  fixin's,  and  everything  else.  T'other  fellers  has 
killed  their  moose,  an'  got  it  into  camp,  coz  it  trotted  most  there  afore  they 
downed  it.  It's  only  a  she  thing,  hows' mever,  what  hain't  ggt  no  sign  uv  a  horn 
to  make  it  look  wuth  sunthin'.  Glad  ours  didn't  streak  it  that  way,  for  now  we 
kin  have  the  fun  uv  stayin'  out  an'  a  haulin'  uv  him  in." 

During  his  absence  the  snow  had  been  cleared  from  a  space  of  ground,  and 
there,  before  him,  stood  the  prettiest  birch  bark  camp  he  had  ever  seen.  The 
outside  vied  with  the  snow  in  whiteness,  while  the  inside  looked  as  if  it  had  been 
frescoed  in  bright  red.  The  floor  was  laid  with  thick  layers  of  cedar  branches 
A  big  fire  crackled  in  front,  and  close  by,  lay  a  great  pile  of  dry  wood  which  was 
intended  to  keep  the  fire  going  all  night. 


an 
wi 
Ri 

hu 

all 

W2 


bl 

Pi 
It 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


185 


Ford  and  Tom  had  cut  the  carcass  into  four  quarters,  and  rolled  the  skin  up 
and  hung  the  antlers  on  a  tree,  where  Jim  could  see  them  to  the  best  advantage, 
with  the  bark  tag  bearing  the  inscription:  "Shot  by  Jim  Payzant,  on  Moose 
Ridge." 

Ford  sat  in  front  of  the  fire,  armed  with  a  great  pronged  stick,  from  which 
hung  long  strips  of  moose  steak  which  he  was  cooking  for  supper. 

After  supper,  Jim,  raising  himself  to  his  full  height  and  stretching  himself  for 
all  he  was  A^orth,  said:  "A  supper  like  that  orter  make  a  shark  feel  ez  ef  he 
wanted  to  jine  the  church." 


STARTED  FOR  CAMP. 


"But  you  ought  to  take  a  whiff  at  my  pipe  to  finish  off,"  remarked  Ford, 
blowing  great  clouds  of  smoke  from  his  black  briar  pipe. 

"Ugh!"  exclaimed  Jim,  with  unaffected  disgust.  "I'd  ez  soon  think  uv 
piayin'  baby  to  father's  ol'  black  sow,  ez  to  think  uv  suckin'  a  thing  like  that. 
It'd  make  me  sicker' n  a  codfish  with  a  hook  in  his  gullet." 

Ford  frowned  ominously,  but  Tom  smiled  approvingly. 

When  bed  time  came,  the  fire  was  piled  with  great  logs  of  Lard,  dry  wood, 


M>i 


vfw-^^-p«si-*HgB 


T'- .■>^'r,.  :-^~V  '"' 


";>v'<.'; 


186 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


after  which  the  three,  with  Towzer  at  their  feet,  turned  under  the  quilts  for 
the  night. 

After  watching  the  light  as  it  played  fantastic  pranks  in  and  out  of  the  camp, 
Jim  said  softly:     "Mister  Tom?" 

"Well,"  was  the  sleepy  and  almost  wandering  monosyllable. 

"What's  the  use  o'  makin'  a  fuss  erbout  gittin'  to  heaven,  when  you  kin 
cuddle  yourself  inter  a  cedar  bed,  an'  hear  the  fire  an'  the  trees  a  singin'  an'  a 
whisperin'  like  angils,  an'  nothin'  to  pay  for  it,  nuther?" 

"Good  Lord,  Jim!"  exclaimed  Ford,  raising  himself  to  his  elbows,  and  look- 
ing down  into  the  strangely  luminous  face  turned  up  to  him  on  the  other  side  of 
Tom.     "You'll  be  the  death  of  me,  yet!" 

Tom,  now  fully  awake,  and  a  bit  startled  himself,  laughed  at  such  a  rate  that 
Towzer  jumped  up,  shook  himself,  and  running  pell-mell  over  the  bodies  of  the 
two  men,  went  and  laid  down  by  Jim,  and  began  to  lick  his  face. 

"Reckon  I'll  have  to  keep  still,  now,"  remarked  Jim,  as  he  pushed  the  dog's 
nose  away,  and  closed  his  own  eyes,  by  way  of  invitation  to  sleep. 

He  was  the  first  to  awake  in  the  morning.  While  he  was  quietly  working  out 
from  under  the  coverings,  Tom  awoke,  and  saluted  him  with:  "Hello,  you 
young  weasel!     Where  are  you  going  now?" 

"Coin'  to  see  where  the  night  has  sneaked  to;  it's  jist  legged  itself  off  'thout 
givin'  us  a  chance  to  git  in  a  single  snore." 

"Look  at  your  watch  and  see  what  time  it  is." 

"Eight  o'clock!" 

"Never!"  exclaimed  Tom,  jumping  to  his  feet  and  looking  at  his  own  time 
piece.  Well,  by  Jove!  If  we  haven't  slept  twelve  hours  right  on  the  stretch. 
That's  the  nearest  I  ever  came  in  my  life  to  committing  the  unpardonable  sin." 

"It's  time  for  us  to  have  some  more  moose  meat,  anyway,"  said  Ford.  "I've 
slept  so  soundly.  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  bear!"  And  he  tumbled  outdoors,  and  after 
washing  his  face  in  the  snow,  began  to  comb  his  great  shock  of  hair  with  a  small 
comb  he  managed  to  fish  out  of  his  baggy  trousers.  His  example  was  followed 
by  his  CO  .ipanions,and  as  soon  as  they  had  breakfasted  they  loaded  the  meat  on 
the  sled  and  started  for  camp. 

Jim,  profiting  by  the  lessons  taught  him  by  the  Tanner,  cured  the  moose- 
skin  in  good  shape,  and  put  it  in  the  bottom  of  his  bunk  ha;rside  up,  thus  adding 
materially  to  his  comfort. 

The  moose  weighed  over  nine  hundred  pounds.  The  great  antlers  were  nailed 
to  a  cross-beam,  where  Jim's  eyes  often  rested  upon  them  with  pardonable  pride, 
though  he  was  not  one  to  make  himself  disagreeable  by  boasting  of  his  doings. 


'y'''"-\'r^:-  •-'■■■r'  ^■■"■i«y. 


terxx 


CLOSING    UP   THE    CHOPPING. 


ITH  the  exception  of  a  few  days  spent 
with  the  Tanner  during  the  Christmas 
holidays,  Jim  passed  the  entire  winter 
in  the  woods.  Nor  did  he  weary  of 
the  work  or  its  surroundings.  Tom 
was  so  companionable,  the  men  so 
uniformly  good-natured,  and  there 
was  so  much  to  learn  and  talk  about 
the  time  passed  quite  swiftly. 

"Living  in  the  woods  makes  you  ez 
tough  ez  an  oak,  an'  ez  sweet  ez  a 
birch,"  said  Jim,  one  Sunday  morn- 
ing, as   he  and  Tom  were  strolling 
along  one  of  the  log-roads,  by  the  side 
of   which   the   great  pines   lifted  up 
their  green  heads  in  solemn  dignity. 
"Glad  you  like  the  woods,"  was  the 
reply.     "I  never  tire  of  them;  in  fact, 
I  believe  I'm  more  than  half  Indian." 
"Humph!     Ef  the  Injuns  was  all  like  you,  there'd  never  been  any  uv  the 
sculpin'  done  what  I've  read  uv.     You  is  jist  like  a  church  runnin'  eround  on 
two  legs."  .  .y.      „    ,    . 

"And  you  are  my  Sunday  school,  Jim." 
"I  don'thanker  arter  Sunday  schools!"  and  he  puckered  his  lips  and  shrugged 

187 


188 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


his  shoulders  in  such  a  curious  way,  Torri  suddenly  stopped  his  walking  and 
looked  at  him  closely. 

"Don't  you  like  Sunday  schools?" 

"Not  awful  much — leastwise — not  always — I  don't — nohow,"  and  he  stum- 
bled over  his  words  in  such  a  confused  way,  and  looked  so  shame-faced  and  yet 
so  perfectly  honest,  Tom  began  to  pity  him. 

"Why  don't  you  like  them?"  asked  Tom,  feeling  in  duty  bound  to  do  work 
meet  for  a  Sunday  morning. 

"Cos  my  teacher  always  talks  ez  ef  I  was  a  gal-baby  what  had  to  be  nussed 
all  the  time.  Ef  she'd  only  talk  ez  ef  there  was  sunthin'  inside  a  feller  what  was 
list  hollerin'  to  bust  inter  a  man  what  wanted  to  git  out  an'  make  things  dust, 
there' d  be  some  fun  in  screwin'  your  face  down  to  a  meetin'  house  figger. 
Sometimes  I  gits  so  scrimped  on  holy  baby  talk  I  can't  help  lettin'  my  feelin's 
bile  overboard — an'  then  you  orter  see  how  humped  my  teacher  looks." 

"Humped!"  exclaimed  Tom,  involuntarily. 

"Yis;  jist  ez  ef  she  wished  she  were  Gerliah,  so  she  could  take  me  on  her 
knees  an'  spank  me  with  the  tip-end  uv  a  hurricane." 

"Aren't  you  stretching  it  a  little?" 

"Things  has  to  be  stretched  sometimes  to  make 'em  git  where  you  wants 
'em  to  git.  One  uv  her  names  is  Mehitable,  an'  I  knows  she'd  like  to  be  able 
to  hit  me  for  all  she's  wuth,  when  I'm  ugly." 

As  it  was  Sunday  morning,  and  as  the  men  of  the  camp  were  within  hearing, 
Tom  made  a  violent  effort  to  restrain  his  mirth;  but  the  effort  reacted  on  him, 
and  the  explosion  was  such  his  upper  teeth  flew  c  t  of  his  mouth  and  fell  into  the 
deep  snow.  He  dropped  on  his  knees  and  began  scratching  like  a  dog  digging 
for  a  woodchuck,  much  to  Jim's  mystification,  he  not  having  noticed  the  flying 
teeth.  When  Tom  found  the  truants  he  hastily  replaced  them,  so  hastily,  in- 
deed, that  it  was  some  moments  before  they  could  be  made  to  fit,  he  had 
shovelled  in  so  much  snow  with  them.  By  the  time  the  restoration  was  effected 
Jim  began  to  suspect  the  real  cause  of  his  erratic  movements.  "/.,>'"; 

"That's  the  way  Malvina  Mehitable'd  like  to  set  mynibblers  goin'  I  reckon," 
said  he,  smiling  so  broadly  that  his  own  native  pearls  shone  in  all  their  beauty 
upon  Tom's  envious  eye^. 

"Why,  Malvina  wouldn't  knock  out  the  teeth  of  a  musquito,  Jim;  besides,  I 
have  heard  her  say  that  you  have  become  the  best  boy  in  all  Liverpool." 

"She  would' nt  think  so  ef  she  know'd  how  much  I'd  like  to  tickle  her  with  a 
bumblebee  when  she  looks  so  all-fired  solemn.  Hows' mever.ef  she  thinks  1  kin 
be  good,  I'll  be  good,  jist  to  spite  my  pesky  meanness." 


%  r 


1 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


189 


"That  would  be  tickling  her  to  some  purpose,  my  boy.  And  let  me  tell  you, 
Jim,  Malvina  is  one  of  the  sweetest  kinds  of  apples,  though  her  skin  is  a  little 
fly-bitten  and  spotted.  The  apples  in  my  orchard  can't  begin  to  compare  with 
her.  You  know  I  stick  up  for  the  Micmac  Indians,  and  so  does  Malvina,  and, 
therefore,  1  have  put  her  down  in  my  private  almanac  as  one  of  the  village 
saints.  Why,  bless  your  soul,  boy!  She'd  kiss  a  Micmac  pappoose  just  as 
quick  as  she  would  a  white  baby,  and  that  is  a  good  deal  more  than  mt)st  Sunday 
school  teachers  would  do." 

"You  don't  say  so.  Mister  Tom!  Ef  that's  the  way  she  lays  herself  out,  I'll 
haul  in  my  sheets  an'  run  unner  her  lee  quarter,  an'  take  in  all  the  Scripter 
cargo  she  kin  afford  to  spare  a  feller." 

Tom  thought  he  had  done  a  good  morning's  work  in  removing  Jim's  preju- 
dices, and  Jim  proved  to  be  so  sincere  in  his  purpose,  he  never  after  spoke  dis- 
respectfully of  Miss  Malvina  Mehitable  McKenzie. 

One  day,  when  the  mild  winds  of  approaching  spring  were  whispering  through 
the  woods.  Ford  told  Jim  that  if  he  would  go  up  to  Silver  Rock,  and  take  a  peep 
around  the  northwest  corner  in  a  line  with  a  big  stump  there  was  there,  he  would 
see  the  Nova  Scotian  Negauneemooncrash.  Jim  went  and  looked  long  and 
anxiously  for  the  animal,  as  it  was  alleged  to  b3.  Seeing  nothing,  he  returned 
to  camp,  where  he  was  made  to  realize  that  it  was  the  first  day  of  April. 

In  the  evening,  when  all  were  asleep,  and  the  Proboscis  Band  was  in  full 
blast,  he  crept  out  of  his  bunk  and  took  down  old  Queen  Anne,  an  ancient  musket 
that  was  famous  for  the  noise  she  made  whenever  she  was  discharged.  Finding 
that  she  was  already  loaded  and  primed,  he  took  her  with  him  and  crept  back 
into  his  bunk,  where,  after -assuring  himself  that  he  was  not  observed,  he  pointed 
the  muzzle  through  an  open  knot-hole,  fired  the  gun,  and  then  concealed  her 
beneath  the  clothes. 

All  the  men  in  the  camp  jumped  to  the  ground,  and  while  they  were  bump- 
ing against  one  another  trying  to  strike  a  light,  Jim  joined  them,  and  being  the 
least  confused  among  them  all,  was  the  first  to  find  a  candle  and  a  match. 

"Thank  heaven!"  exclaimed  Ford,  his  teeth  chattering  like  castanets,  'we 
are  all  alive.  But  what  in  the  name  of  goodness  was  it?  One  might  think  that 
old  Queen  Anne  had  taken  a  notion  to  go  off." 

"She's  gone  off,  sure  enough!"  cried  the  owner,  taking  the  candle  and  hunt- 
ing for  his  gun-  "She  was  on  the  rack  when  I  *^ent  to  bed,  but  she  isn't  there 
now.  that's  certain." 

•*If  she'll  only  stay  gone,  I'll  be  thankful,"  said  Tom,  testily,  "for  she  was 
the  most  confounded  old  roarer  and  kicker  a  man  ever  put  to  his  shoulder. 


190 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Look  and  see  if  she  hasn't  gone  stern  foremost  through  the  walls;  she  was  so 
infernally  contrary,  It  would  be  just  like  her." 

"There's  no  hole  there,"  said  the  owner,  notwithstanding  the  absurdity  of 
supposing  that  she  had  kicked  herself  through  a  foot-thick  wall  of  solid  logs. 
And,  after  continuing  his  examination,  he  added:  "The  strangest  thing  is, 
there  isn't  a  sign  of  her  having  busted  to  pieces.  It's  a  most  unaccountable 
mystery." 

"Your  old  Mary  Ann  has  gone  up  to  Silver  Rock  to  court  Negauneemoon- 
crash,  an'  she  jist  let  herself  out  before  she  went  to  'scuse  herself  for  goin'. 


,  "WHAT  IN  THE  NAME  OF  GOODNESS  WAS  IT?" 

Like  ernough  by  the  time  she  gits  back,  you'll  remember  it's  the  fust 
day  o'  April,  an'  that  a  Yankee  boy  kin  fool  folkses  ez  well  ez  a  Bluenose 
man."  And  Jim  drawled  his  words  with  most  provoking  slowness  while  letting 
his  secret  out.  - 

"I  hope  you  are  satisfied  with  your  experiments  with  the  boy,"  remarked 
Tom,  chuckling  and  shaKing  all  over,  and  glad  that  jim  had  paid  the  men  back 
in  their  own  coin. 

Jim  took  the  gun  from  beneath  the  bed-clothes,  and  restored  her  to  the  rack 
where  she  was  wont  to  repose,  in  all  the  glory  of  her  lengthy  barrel. 


!^ 


I- 


■.ly 


i-  iT^ 


,  -c 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


191 


so 

of 

gs. 
is, 

ble 


3n- 
n'. 


list 
se 

ng 

gd 
ck 

sk 


"Where's  Old  Black  Bess?"  asked  Ford,  scratching  his  head  with  great 
energy,  and  fumbling  among  the  cross-beams  for  the  pipe  which  he  had  thus 
named. 

Having  found  Bess,  he  slowly  filled  her  up  with  clippings  from  a  villainously 
black  plug,  managing  the  while  to  tip  the  wink  to  his  companions,  who,  knowing 
that  Jim  and  Tom  detested  the  weed,  filled  their  pipes  and  smoked  until  it  looked 
as  if  the  cabin  roof  would  float  away  upon  the  wings  of  the  blue  cloud  they  pro- 
duced. 

Seeing  <^hat  their  object  was,  Tom  and  Jim  turned  into  their  bunks,  where, 
placing  their  noses  close  to  the  wall,  they  drew  the  quilts  over  their  heads  and 
l(         fell  asleep. 

"It's  no  good,"  said  Ford,  ruefully,  lamenting  the  failure  of  his  attempt  to 
get  his  revenge,  "and  we  may  as  well 
turn  in,  boys." 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he 
laid  Black  Bess  upon  a  cross-beam  and 
dumped  himself  into  his  bunk,  the  rest 
being  only  too  glad  to  follow  his  ex- 
ample. 

With  the  advent  of  April,  the  sound 
of  the  axe  grew  less  frequent,  and  the 
thunder  of  falling  trees  ceased  alto- 
gether. While  the  snow  was  still  upon 
the  ground,  the  heavy  teams  were  sent 
out  of  the  woods  in  anticipation  of  the 
spring  rains  which  would  soon  set  in. 

With  the  departure  of  the  teams, 
most  of  the  men  improved  the  opportunity  to  visit  their  homes,  and  to  lay  in  a 
fresh  supply  of  provisions  for  the  work  that  was  yet  to  be  done.  As  the  sledding 
on  the  public  road  was  quite  bare,  most  of  the  distance  had  to  be  made  on  foot. 
Tom  and  Jim  were  so  anxious  to  reach  home,  they  soon  left  their  fellow-walkers 
far  behind. 

It  was  twelve  o'clock  when  they  reached  Milton.  Hannah  and  Peggy  were 
just  sitting  down  to  dinner,  and  Hannah  was  saying:  "I  am  so  glad  the  logging 
season  is  most  over,"  and  Peggy  was  repeating  in  a  faintly  joyful  way,  "Most 
over,"  when  in  walked  Tom,  Jim  and  Towzer. 

"Just  in  time  to  get  some  of  that  roast  beef,"  exclaimed  Tom,  as  his  eye 
roamed  over  the  dinner  table.       ,  ^  -  -  . 


GREETING  TOM. 


'■Vi4';BJ.< 


192 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Roast  beef,"  echoed  Peggy,  as  she  took  her  husband's  hand  and  gave  It  a 
regular  pump-handle,  up-and-down  shake,  modestly  forbearing  to  kiss  him  in 
j'im's  presence. 

Hannah,  however,  more  demonstrative,  kissed  her  brother  with  a  loudness 
that  was  terrifying  to  Peggy,  who  always  thought  that  kisses  should  be  as  secret 
and  as  silent  as  the  dews  of  midnight,  as  well  as  like  angels'  visits,  few  and  far 
between. 

Peggy  looked  at  the  fresh  cheeks  of  her  fifty-year-old  husband  with  pardon- 
able pride,  and  then  blushed  crimson  through  her  own  fifty-year-old  skin,  to  think 
that  she  was  admiring  him  so  undisguisedly  in  the  presence  of  others. 

Meanwhile.  Hannah,  bustlingly  practical  in  every  movement,  had  made  her 
way  to  the  old  corner  cupboard  in  search  of  extra  plates  and  extra  goodies, 
though  Jim  protested  he  must  hurry  home  before  he  ate. 

"You  can't  go  home  till  you  have  had  dinner,"  said  Hannah,  decidedly. 

"Till  you  have  had  dinner,"  repeated  Peggy,  with  quite  a  flash  of  warmth  in 
her  unwonted  emphasis  of  the  words. 

"The  'Medes  and  Persians'  have  settled  it,"  remarked  Tom,  "so  I  may  as 
well  settle  a  chair  for  you  to  settle  down  in." 

But  the  moment  dinner  was  over,  Jim  was  so  anxious  to  get  home,  he  hastily 
excused  himself  and  hurried  away;  with  Towzer  at  his  heels  growing  friskier  and 
friskier  as  he  went  over  the  familiar  ground. 

Ruth  was  in  the  kitchen  washing  dishes,  and  quavering  over  the  old-fashioned 
words: 

\  Come  on.  my  partners  in  distress! 

My  comrades  through  this  wilderness, 
Who  still  your  bodies  feel; 
' '  ^  Awhile  forget,  your  griefs  and  fears, 

\.  And  look  beyond  this  vale  of  tears,  '  '        .,..'" 

To  that  celestial  hill. 


Just  as  she  was  giving  the  finishing  touches  to  the  "celestial  hill,"  in  burst 
Jim  and  the  dog,  and  the  next  moment  the  boy  was  kissing  her  on  one  cheek, 
while  Towzer,  not  to  be  outdone,  was  standing  on  his  hind-feet  and  lapping  her 
on  the  other  cheek  with  all  his  might. 

"Well,  well,  well,  well!"  she  cried,  joyously,  "are  you  my  partners  in 
distress?" 

"AH  but  the  distress,  mother.  But  has  you  been  singin'  that  blessed  ol' 
hymn  ever  since  we  went  inter  the  wilderness?" 

'No,  my  son;  only  when  I  have  seen  the  celestial  hill,"  and  she  spoke  so 
simply,  ana  there  was  such  a  sweet  smile  upon  her  gentle  face,  Jim  put  up  both 


1 1 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


193 


■]  f 


hands  and  softly  caressed  her  cheeks,  while  Towzer  sat  on  his  haunches  at  her 
feet,  and  watched  the  operation  with  approving  wags  of  his  great,  bushy  tail. 

Happening  to  look  around,  Jim  discovered  the  Tanner  framed  in  the  door- 
way watching  him. 

«      "And  how  are  we  to-day?"  asked  the  Tanner,  with  smiling  lips  and  brim- 
ming eyes. 

"Like  a  trout  what  has  j'ist  been  washin'  its  face  in  spring  water,"  was  the 
reply,  as  Jim  took  the  big,  honest  hand  of  the  Tanner  between  his  own,  and 
wagged  it  to  and  fro  with  all  the  strength  he  possessed. 

"Why,  boy,  you  have  grown  taller  since  you  have  been  in  the  woods."     And 
the  Tanner  looked  down  at  the  space 
that  had  widened  between  Jim's  shoes 
and  trousers,  and  then  over  his  head 
and  his  person  generally. 

"Them  britches  has  jist  beenhitchin' 
themselves  up  to  keep  clear  uv  the 
snow,  though  stretchin'  your  arms 
ahind  an  axe  handle  is  ernough  to  set 
anybody's  carkis  a  climbin'  up  Zion's 
Hill."  And  Jim  colored  richly  at  the 
very  idea  of  growing  up  toward  man- 
hood. 

"Well,  at  any  rate,  we  shall  have  to 
go  down  to  the  Captain's  store  and  get 
another  pair,  for  these  look  as  if  they 
were  tired  of  work  and  had  been  hold- 
ing a  prayer  meeting  for  the  rag-bag." 
"James!  How  >uu  do  talk,"  mur- 
mured Ruth,  reprovingly. 

"Then  I  kin  give  these  britches  to  Malvina  Mehitable  for  the  heathen,  coz 
they  kin  see  daylight  through  'em  almost  anywhere,"  said  Jim,  who  always  sided 
witti  the  Tanner's  gentle  irreverence. 

Ruth  forgot  to  be  serious,  and  laughed  outright  at  the  bare  idea  of  Jim's 
trousers  going  to  Malvina  for  "distribution."  .  ."•:,. 

"They  will  have  to  stay  at  home  and  go  into  my  new  rag  carpet,"  said  she,  re- 
ferring to  a  wondrous  coat  of  many  colors  she  was  planning  for  the  dining-room  floor. 

VI,  having  heard  Towzer' s  bark,  ran  over  to  welcome  the  dog  back,  and  at 
Tan  Pile  Jim  1!$  , 


"WELL,  WELL,  WELL    WBLLl' 


194 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


this  moment  made  her  appearance  at  the  door,  where  she  couldn't  very  well 
prevent  herself  from  seeing  Jim.  She  kissed  the  dog.  and  shook  hands  with  the 
boy  so  heartily,  he  wished  that  he  had  slipped  into  his  Sunday  trousers  before  her 
arrival. 

While  she  and  the  dog  were  inquiring  about  each  other's  health,  he  disap- 
peared up  stairs,  and  when  he  came  down  again,  he  looked  so  trim  and  spruce, 
the  Tanner  gave  a  deep  chuckle,  which  so  embarrassed  Jim  he  trod  on  Towzer's 
tail,  and  caused  him  to  raise  a  howl  which  startled  everyone  in  the  room. 

"Ef  your  tail  is  so  tender  why  don't 
you  keep  it  out  of  the  way,  or  carry  it  to 
the  butcher  and  sell  it  for  tenderline 
steak!"  exclaimed  Jim  quite  put  out  by 
the  mishap. 

The  old  cat,  aroused  by  the  dog's  cry, 
came  from  her  warm  quarters  beneath 
the  stove  and  purrlngly  rubbed  herself 
against  Towzer,  which  so  consoled  him 
that  he  laid  down  upon  the  floor,  where, 
taking  her  between  his  great  paws,  he 
nearly  lapped  her  out  of  her  skin. 

Ruth,  seeing  that  Vi  and  Jim  were  so 
glad  to  see  each  other  that  they  were 
acting  very  awkwardly,  slyly  said:  "Did 
you  wear  Vi's  wristlets,  Jim?" 

"Wore  'em  most  to  death,  an'  when 
I  saw  they  were  likely  to  give  up  the 
ghost  altogether,  I  histed  them  on  the 
topmast  of  the  moose's  horns  to  keep 
'em  out  of  danger.  They's  in  my  pockits  up  stairs  now  ez  safe  an'  sound 
ez  a  rabbit  in  its  hole." 

"And  you  really  did  kill  a  moose,"  said  Vi,  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  change 
the  subject. 

"Mister  Tom  and  Mister  Ford  fixed  him,  though  I  did  make  a  hole  through 
him  In  a  tender  spot." 

Vi  pulled  out  of  her  pocket  an  old-fashioned  steel  reticule,  and,  opening  it, 
produced  a  newspaper  clipping,  which  she  handed  over  to  Jim,  asking  him  to 
read  it. 

It  was  a.  half-column  from  the  Liverpool  paper  containing  an  account  of  the 


GBEBTING  VI. 


1* 


a 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


195 


moose-hunt,  furnished  by  no  less  a  person  than  Tom  himself,  who,  in  the  most 
unmistakable  terms  put  the  honor  where  it  belonged. 

The  idea  of  being  in  the  paper,  and  of  the  slip  being  carried  in  Vi's  pocket, 
together  with  the  fact  that  Tom's  name  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  item,  made 
Jim  speechless. 

"But  where  are  the  horns?"  asked  the  Tanner. 

"Comin'  on  the  sled;  I  brought  'em  erlong  so  that  Vi  could  have  'em  to 
put  over  the  door  of  hei  summer  house.  You've  got  so  many  ol'  heads  an' 
horns  kickin'  eround  the  tannery,  I  know'd  you  wouldn't  wanter  be  bothered 
with  'em."  :• 

Vi  was  so  delighted  with  the  idea  of  having  the  antlers  for  her  summer  house, 
she  gave  a  wee,  small  scream  and  clapped  her  hands  together  quite  loudly,  which 
was  such  a  manifestly  irregular  course  of  conduct  on  her  part.  Towzer  sprang  up 
and  began  to  bark  vehemently,  which,  in  turn,  so  astonished  the  cat  she  darted 
out  of  the  room  with  all  the  speed  her  white  legs  could  muster. 

"Well,  well!"  exclaimed  Ruth,  laughing,  "the  idea  of  her  running  from  him 
in  that  way,  and  that,  too,  when  she  is  so  fond  of  him.  It  only  goes  to  show 
how  scared  we  can  get  of  one  another  when  we  get  kind  of  sudden,  as  it  were," 
and  she  looked  at  Jim  and  Vi  in  such  a  comical,  innocent  way,  they  both 
burst  out  laughing,  and  from  that  moment  they  seemed  to  lose  all  embarrass- 
ment in  each  other's  presence. 

"Mister  Tom  has  a  bearskin  on  the  floor  of  his  best  room,"  said  Jim,  "and 
my  skin  is  for  mother's  parlor." 

"Your  skill"  and  Ruth  held  up  both  hands  in  mock  horror.     ' 

"Why,  mother,  you  has  grown  ez  young  ez  a  kitten — I'm  talking  erbout  the 
mooseskin." 

The  sled  soon  came  along,  fetching  the  mooseskin  and  horns,  and  the 
villagers,  hearing  of  the  arrival,  came  in  by  dozens  to  see  them,  as  they  were 
displayed  on  Peggysls'  back,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to  enable  the  Tanner  to  point 
out  the  hole  made  by  Jim's  fortunate  shot.  ,  ,  ,. 


«    >i: 


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A    5^- 


Ir 


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S    t 


floa 
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Si 


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■■^  ':■ 


,  I 


K6.pter-xx 


IlUNNING   OF   THE    LOGS. 

HEN  Jim  went  back  to  the  woods, to 
be  present  at  the  log  drive,  he  found 
that  everything  was  changed.  The 
spring  rains  had  come;  every  vestige 
of  ice  had  disappeared;  the  river  was 
bank  full,  and  the  loose  logs  were 
running  out  by  thousands.  The  dif- 
ferent logging  gangs  had  combined 
their  forces  for  the  drive,  or  run,  and 
every  one  was  on  ther  alert  to  see 
that  his  part  of  the  work  was  done 
to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

As  will  be  remembered,  Jim  had 
named  the  four  logs  he  cut  from  his 
first  tree,  Ruth.  Vi,  Hannah  and 
Peggy,  and  the  names  were  cut  into 
the  logs  in  deep  letters  by  Jim  him- 
self, under  the  direction  of  Tom, 
who  cut  a  letter  with  an  axe  almost  as  handily  as  he  wrote  one  with 
a  pen. 

When  the  drive  first  started  from  the  still  water  of  the  lake,  the  four  logs 
floated  side  by  side,  placid  and  dignified,  as  became  logs  that  thought  of  the 
years  it  had  taken  to  grow  them,  the  houses  they  were  to  help  form,  and  the 
heads  they  were  to  shelter,  when  changed  into  boards  and  fitted  to  their  places 
by  the  carpenter.     But  the  moment  they  drifted  into  the  riffles,  and  plunged  into 

187 


198 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


the  foaming  rapids,  they  began  to  act  in  the  most  scandalous  manner.  The 
most  astonishing  thing  about  it  was,  Peggy  started  ahead,  though  in  a  timid, 
sideways  sort  of  manner,  and  before  she  knew  what  she  was  about,  she  was 
caught  by  the  middle  across  a  rock,  where  she  began  to  dance  a  horn-pipe,  dip- 
ping first  one  way  and  then  another,  as  if  inviting  all  the  trees  on  the  river  bank 
to  witness  her  capers.  >  ,         ' 

"What  in  the  land's  name  will  she  do  next!"  exclaimed  Jim,  as  he  watched 
her  movements. 

Ruth  plunged  down  stream  head  on,  and  made  a  bee-line  for  Peggy's  center, 
as  if  with  the  intention  of  delivering  her  a  blow  which  would  dislodge  her  from 
the  rock  and  send  her  about  her  business.  But  missing  her  direction,  she  hit 
a  rock  with  such  force  that  her*  nose  was  sadly  battered,  after  which  she  ran  her 
head  over  Peggy's  middle,  where  she  lay  high  and  dry  the  greater  part  of  her 
length. 

When  Jim  saw  Ruth  start,  he  said:  "That's  right,  mother;  give  it  to  her! 
She's  no  business  stoppin'  up  the  gangway,  ez  ef  she  owned  all  creation."  But 
when  he  saw  that  she  was  also  hard  and  fast,  he  said:  "Shiver  my  timbers! 
Ef  she  hasn't  gone  fast  asleep  right  in  the  middle  of  the  river." 

Hannah  and  Vi,  side  by  side,  followed  after,  also  in  a  direct  line  for  Peggy, 
and,  plunging  forward,  struck  her  such  a  decisive  blow,  she  was  dislodged,  as 
was  also  Ruth.  All  four  then  began  a  headlong  race  down  the  river,  leaving 
Jim  to  shout:.  "Hurrah  for  Han  and  Vi!  There  hain't  no  pancake  batter 
erbout  them;  they  jist  batters  like  goats  what  has  locomotives  atween  their 
horns.     Now,  go  it,  gals,  an'  don't  stop  to  cut  up  any  more  shines."  :    ■*■ 

The  whole  drive  was  now  pounding  and  thundering  through  the  first  rapids, 
and  Jim  could  no  longer  keep  his  queer  quartet  in  sight. 

After  the  rapids  came  a  still-water,  through  which  the  logs  had  to  be  coaxed 
by  the  men,  who  were  now  running  over  the  drive,  pikes  in  hand,  with  as  much 
fearlessness  as  if  they  were  promenading  on  dry  land. 

Tom  gave  Jim  explicit  directions  to  confine  his  operations  to  the  shore,  from 
which  he  was  to  push  the  logs  whenever  they  were  in  danger  of  grounding.  But 
tiring  of  this  tame  task,  which  did  not  keep  him  fully  engaged,  he  began  to  skip 
about  on  the  floating  logs  with  an  agility  and  fleetness  worthy  of  an  old  logger. 

Getting  a  sight  of  him  while  thus  engaged,  Tom  gave  him  a  severe  reprimand. 

"But  a  feller  what  has  shinned  up  a  slushed  topm'st  in  a  gale  o'  wind  at  sea, 
hain't'  no  need  o'  bein'  feared  o'  logs  what  is  a  layin'  flat  on  their  lazy  backs," 
said  he,  in  self-defense.  "An'  what  is  more,  I  must  hunt  up  mother  an'  Vi,  an' 
Hannah  an'  Peggy,  an'  see  that  they  sticks  to  business,  for  I  wants  them  to  git 


i'y 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


199 


o 


Inter  port  with  the  very  fustest  ones  uv  this  chunlcy-headed  fleet  o'  fresh-water 
craft." 

Finding  it  useless  to  remonstrate  further,  Tom  went  off  laughing,  fully 
believing  that  Jim  wasn't  born  to  be  drowned;  an  opinion  in  which  he  was  con- 
firmed when,  on  looking  around  at  him  several  times,  he  saw  that  he  balanced 
himself  on  the  logS  and  handled,  or  rather  footed,  them  as  well  as  If  he  had 
served  a  regular  apprenticeship  among  them. 

Jim  couldn't  find  his  pet  logs,  and.  to  tell  the  truth,  he  didn't  waste  much 
time  in  looking  after  them,  for  the  moving  hundreds  around  him  required  too 
much  of  his  immediate  attention  to  admit 
of  his  showing  partiality  for  favorites. 

The  rain  was  pouring  down  in  sheets; 
this,  however,  was  of  small  moment  to  the 
loggers,  who  were  so  accustomed  to  the 
wet  during  driving  time,  that  dry  clothes 
were  accounted  a  dishonor. 

The  main  body  of  the  drive  began  its 
run  at  daylight,  and  at  night  it  was  eleven 
miles  from  the  start,  the  stream  being  in 
such  good  stage  that  the  work  was  com- 
paratively easy. 

It  was  still  raining  when  the  men  turned 
to  the  shore  and  made  preparations  for 
food  and  rest.     ,  *  .    . 

Looking  after  his  own  gang,  Tom  imme- 
diately managed  to  find  some  dry  punk, 
and  forthwith  there  was  a  big,  blazing  fire 
underway,  which  was  kept  brightly  going, 
notwithstanding  the  constant  drizzle. 

After  improvising  a  rough  supper,  the 
tired  loggers  threw  themselves  down  before  the  fire,  and  fell  as  soundly  asleep  as 
if  they  were  lying  on  down,  beneath  a  silken  canopy  In  a  sky-blue,  sweetly 
scented  chamber;  the  logs,  meanwhile,  being  allowed  to  look  after  them- 
selves. 

Tom  was  the  first  to  rise  and  unllmber  his  stiffened  joints  In  the  morning. 
The  moment  he  looked  at  the  river  his  practised  eye  showed  him  that  there 
was  trouble  ahead. 

"Turn  out,  boys!"  he  shouted,  "there's  mischief  to  pay,  below." 


LIKE  AN  OLD  LOGGER. 


^  ^ 


200 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Every  man  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  instinctively  directed  his  glance  to  the 
stream. 

"Well,"  said  Ford,  coolly,  after  he.  had  removed  his  cap.  and  wrung  the  ac- 
cumulated water  out  of  it,  "  'tisn't  the  first  time  we  have  had  to  fight  a  jam. 
Let's  get  breakfast  before  we  tackle  it;  we  can't  do  anything  while  we  are  as 
empty  as  hollow  logs." 

The  breakfast  consisted  solely  of  soaked  hard  tack  and  broiled  sm.oked  her- 
ring, washed  down  wiih  strong  coffee,  tempered  with  molasses  only.  Nor  would 
Ford  and  the  smokers  budge  an  Inch  until  they  had  put  themselves  in  trim  with 
a  short  pull  at  their  pipes. 

This  ceremony  over,  the  whole  gang  moved  down  the  river  in  the  direction 
of  the  jam,  where  the  logs,  caught  by  obstructions,  had  piled  themselves  upon 
one  another  between  two  high  banks,  to  the  height  of  fifteen  feet,  causing  a  back- 
water of  over  twelve  feet.  This  was  a  serious  matter.  The  rise  was  carrying 
floating  logs  into  the  woods  in  all  directions,  and  this  meant  that  when  the  jam 
was  broken  they  would  be  left  high  and  dry,  involving  a  delay  of  a  year  or  more 
before  they  could  be  hauled  to  the  stream  and  again  started  on  their  way  to  the 
booms.     Many  of  them  would  have  to  be  abandoned  altogether. 

Every  hour's  delay  increased  the  tangle,  and  the  difficulty  of  breaking  the 
jam.  The  first  thing  necessary  was  to  find  the  key  log  of  the  jam.  This  was  a 
perilous  bus.ness,  and  only  the  most  experienced  men  were  allowed  to  prosecute 
the  search. 

These  were  at  work  on  the  lower  part  of  the  jam,  while  the  others  were  en- 
gaged above  trying  to  keep  the  floating  logs  from  running  intathe  woods.  Tom 
was  the  head  of  the  lower  gang;  Jim  worked  above.  • 

"Here  she  is!"  exclaimed  Tom,  after  a  prolonged  search,  "and  I'll  be  blamed 
if  isn't  old  Ruth  herself!     A  pretty  pickle  she  has  made  for  us!" 

One  of  the  picked  men,  armed  with  a  canthook,  began  to  test  the  log  by 
nipping  on  to  it  and  throwing  his  strength  on  the  levering  handle. 

"Have  a  care  there,  man!"  shouted  Tom,  excitedly,  for  he  saw  that  the  log 
was  not  as  firmly  wedged  in  as  was  at  first  supposed.  But  the  key  had  already 
started  out  of  place,  and  with  it  the  whole  mass,  grinding  and  crushing  under  the 
piled  up  floods,  started  with  a  thundering  noise  that  could  have  been  heard  a  mile 
away.  The  men  fled  for  their  lives  over  the  rapidly  crumbling  pile,  well  aware 
that  there  would  be  short  shift  for  anyone  who  should  lose  his  footing  in  that 
chaos  of  flood  and  timber. 

The  Instant  Tom  reached  the  bank  he  looked  up  stream  to  see  what  had  be- 
come of  Jim. 


TAN  PILE  JIM  201 

Jim,  all  unconscious  of  what  was  going  on  bebow,  was  standing  on  a  log  that 
was  firmly  wedged  Into  the  upper  edge  of  the  jam.  The  noise  below  drowned 
Tom's  frantic  cry  of  warning,  and  suddenly  Jim  felt  the  mass  give  way  beneath, 
his  feet  with  a  sullen  roar.  He  dropped  his  pike  and  fled  toward  the  shore , 
thoroughly  alarmed.  But,  quick  as  he  was,  he  started  too  late.  Stepping  on 
the  end  of  a  rapidly  moving  log,  which  made  a  downward  plunge  the  instant  his 
foot  touched  it,  he  found  himself  drawn  down  into  the  deadly  swirl 

"My  God,  men!"  shouted  Tom,  in  an  agony  of  distress,  "he's  gone!'* 
Instantly  every  man  in  the  vicinity  began  a  perilous  race  for  the  spot  where 
Jim  had  disappeared.     Their  hearts  misgave  them  while  they  ran  over  the  logs 
searching  for  him  in  vain. 

Fifty  feet  below  where  Jim  had  gone  down,  three  logs  had  formed  a  triangle 
around  a  black,  foaming  swirl  of   open 
water.     Through  the  foam   curling  over 

the  surface  of  the  lowest  log.  Ford  caught      J^^^'^y  ^KmM 
sight  of  a  pair  of   hands  clinging  to  the    \^^^y^-^M,      .^—, 
logs  with  a  desperate  grip.     With  a  loud       /W/zi  Jf^t      ISmta-r 
cry,  he  sped  to  the  spot,  closely  followed     ^"""■^^^^iiH^.i^.-^^w  m/ 
by  Tom,  and  the  next  instant,  aided  by  a    n;^^^^/^  7    ^^^P^tZ^Lii' ; 
dozen  hands,  they  were  bearing  the  boy  to   ^^^s^^  '^'^Sil^i^ 
the  shore,  over  the  surface  of  the  flying  Pl^^'li^'.  ;:~^  w- 
mass  of  timber.     It  was  a  terrible  race        i      <!■■  ii  ■  i 
against   death;   the   logs   moving  with  a    v 
velocity  greatly  increased  by  the  giving    Vi  ^BS^I^Ni!^^ ^ 
away  of   the  whole  jam,  and   the  great    -^A^™""""***^*^^      '• 
pressure  of  the  accumulated  waters  above,  'ilf- 

When  Jim  was  laid  upon  a  bank   of 
moss,  he  was  unconscious,  but  still  breath-  jim*s  narrow  escape. 

ing.     Skilled  for  such  emergencies,  Tom  and  Ford  worked  most  intelligently  for 
his  restoration. 

Presently  Jim  opened  his  eyes,  and  looking  up  into  Tom's  face,  faintly 
smiled.     Tom  iuined  away  and  cried  like  a  child. 

"How  do  you  feel?"  asked  Ford,  wiping  his  own  eyes  upon  tl;e  sleeve  of  his 
rough,  woolen  shirt,  and  doing  his  best  to  control  himself.         '    ".■ 
"Mighty  gone  like!"  was  the  feeble  answer.  -    •  '   -' 

"Hurrah!"  shouted  the  owner  of  old  Queen  Anne.     "He's  all  right!" 
"Can  you  move  your  legs?"  asked  one  of  the  men,  fearing  that  some  of  his 
bones  were  broken. 


^sj^prw'sgn^pijJSr" 


202 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Jim  mustered  the  little  strength  he  had  left,  and  for  answer,  shook  his  legs, 
adding:     "1  reckon  there's  lots  uv  kicks  left  in   eiii  yit." 

"And  your  arms — are  they  whole?"  asked  Ford,  thhkin,.j  it  impossible  for 
the  lad  to  have  come  out  of  the  jam  unharmed. 

To  everybody's  surprise,  Jim  roLS  to  a  sitting  posture  without  assistance,  and, 
after  flinging  his  arms  about  in  various  directions,  said:  "Them  arms  is  jist  ez 
good  ez  they  ever  was.  But  when  I  went  unner  them  logs,  an'  felt  my  head 
bumpin'  agin  'em  in  the  dark,  says  I  to  myself. -0  Lord!     I  gu^ss  you've  got  me 

this  time,  for  sure!'  An'  then  I  tried  to 
think.  'Now  I  lay  me.'  Jist  then  my  head 
popped  out  o'  water  like  a  corked  bottle,  an' 
erfore  I  went  down  agin  I  grabbed  onter  the 
fust  log  1  come  to;  an'  the  next  thing  I 
know'd,  some  one  had  snaked  me  out  like  a 
trout  at  the  end  uv  a  rod.  An'  1  was  that 
thankful,  I  jist  went  to  sleep  an'  dreamed  I 
was  layin'  on  mother's  bosom." 

"We  didn't  know  whether  you  were  dead 
or  alive,  when  we  pulled  you  ashore,"  said 
Ford,  whose  voice  quavered  in  spite  of  him- 
jself.  "But,  upon  my  soul!  I  believe  you 
have  come  out  of  that  deadly  whirlpool  of 
logs  and  water  without  a  scratch." 

The   other  men  were  so  deeply  moved, 
they  were  as  silent  as  stones.     Meanwhile, 
~  Tom  was  rushing  here  and  there,  in  search 
J- of  material  for  a  fire,  for  at  the  mention  of  his 
experience  in  the  water,  he  had  noticed  that 
Jim  perceptibly  shivered;  this  Tom  mistook  for 
a  chill,  when  it  was  due  entirely  to  his  emotion. 
Divining  his  purpose,  Jim  assured  Tom  that  he  was  as  warm  as  a  piece  of 
toast,  and  ready  to  go  to  work  again. 

"To  work  again!"  exclaimed  Ford,  in  amazement,  and  unable  to  say  more. 
To  verify  his  words,  Jim  rose  to  his  feet,  and  after  standing  a  little  unsteadily 
for  a  moment,  turned  a  feeble  somersault,  which  so  excited  the  men,  they 
cheered  till  the  woods  rang. 

"If  I  catch  you  on  those  logs  again  to-day,"  said  Tom,  vehemently,  "I'll 
lambast  you  till  you  won't  have  a  whole  spot  to  sit  down  on!     If  anything  should 


TIMELY  ADVICE. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


203 


happen  to  you,  Ruth  and  the  Tanner,  and  Peggy  and  Hannah,  would  choke  me 
to  death  with  a  red  bandanna." 

"Jerusalem,  Mister  Tom!  Ef  you  goes  to  jingling  that  way,  I'll  have  to  git 
a  hymn  book,  so's  to  keep  up  with  you.'" 

"Speaking  of  hymn  books,  let  me  tell  you,  that  if  Malvina  Mehitable  hears 
of  this  business,  she'll  deluge  you  with  all  the  texts  she's  committed  to  memory 
since  the  day  she  was  born." 

"Ef  she  goes  to  chippin'  in  her  solemncholy  on  me,  I'll  have  to  turn  bad 
agin,  an' then  she'll  look  at  me  like  a  settin'  hen  what  is  havin'  the  eggs  punched 
from  unner  her.  Hows'mever,  I  kin  take  lots  from  her,  I  reckon,  seeing  ez  how 
she  is  one  uv  your  sweet  apple  saints,  an'  ez  how  my  head  is  still  above  water. 
Now.  I  comes  to  think  on't  she  shall  talk 
to  me  a  hull  hour  arter  Sunday  school,  ef 
she  wants  to." 

When  he  learned  that  the  Ruth  log  was 
the  one  that  began  the  jam,  he  became 
very  sober,  and  made  Tom  promise  that 
Ruth  should  not  be  told  of  it.  "Ef  she 
knows  that  her  name  has  been  cuttin'  up 
sich  shines,  her  apun  corners  won't  git  dry 
for  a  week." 

The  men  now  scattered  to  the  drive  again. 
The  great  body  of  logs,  as  if  to  make  up  for 
lost  time,  was  floating  down  the  constantly 
widening  river  in  fine  style. 

At  the  moment  jim  was  talking  about 
ttie  Ruth  log,  she  was  sweeping  placidly 
along  under  the  overhanging  branches  of  cedar  that  skirts  the  river  bank.  VI, 
floating  alone,  had  run  her  nose  into  the  current  of  an  incoming  brook,  and 
resenting  its  attempt  to  scrape  an  acquaintance,  had  sheered  off  to  the  other 
side  of  the  stream.  Hannah,  with  a  huge  night-cap  of  white  foam  on  her  head, 
floated  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  escorted  by  two  immense  logs,  which  were 
doing  their  best  to  make  love  to  her,  as  she  floated  between  them.  Peggy 
dreamily  drifted  by  the  shore  of  a  beautiful  little  island  which,  ever  and  anon,  she 
gently  caressed  with  a  chaste  passing  touch. 

Hundreds  of  the  drive  were  left  high  and  dry  in  the  woods  by  the  sudden  fall 
of  the  backwater,  just  as  many  a  one  gets  left  by  allowing  himself  to  drift  in 
waters  that  forsake  their  legitimate  channels. 


NINBTY-THREB  DOLLARS  1 


204 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


In  two  days  from  the  time  of  the  jam  the  drive  reached  the  dam  at  Milton, 
where  the  logs  were  sorted  into  'he  different  bocms  belonging  to  the  different 
logging  gangs. 

In  making  up  the  Kenton  and  Payzant  boom,  I'ti  managed  to  get  Ruth  a  J 
Hannah,  and  Peggy  and  Vi  together  again;  and  to  distinguish  them  as  his  f:.st 
logs  he  tore  off  one  of  the  flaps  of  his  red  flannel  shirt,  and,  dividing  it  into  four 
small  flags,  affixed  them  to  miniature  flag-staffs,  which  he  drove  into  the  logs, 
thereby  so  attracting  the  attention  of  the  villagers,  they  gave  the  logs  the  title 
of  "The  Yankee  Red  Flannel  Fleet."  The  flags  remained  undisturbed  until  the 
logs  were  turned  into  lumber.  The  last  Jim  heard  of  his  Hannah  and  Peggy, 
and  Ruth  and  Vi  boards,  they  were  being  loaded  on  the  Payzant  and  Kenton 
bark.  Lady  Campbell,  for  B.^rmuda  and  a  market. 

In  spite  of  all  precautions  Ruth  heard  all  the  particulars  about  her  namesake 
log,  and  Jim's  narrow  escape,  but  instead  of  dampening  the  corner  of  her  apron 
over  it,  she  grew  palely  resolute,  and  made  Jim  solemnly  promise  that  he  would 
never  take  part  in  another  log  drive.  - 

Jim  netted  ninety-three  dollars  from  his  winter's  work.  When  the  money 
was  pulled  out  of  Tom's  buckskin  coin  bag,  and,  in  the  presence  of  the  Tanner 
and  Ruth,  shoved  over  the  table  to  Jim,  who  was  sitting  on  the  other  side,  he 
was  confounded  by  the  magnitude  of  the  pile,  and  said:  "I  reckon  I'll  have  to 
take  half  on  it  an'  buy  Nova  Scotia  for  Uncle  Sam.  an'  the  other  half  I'll  take 
to  buy  four  white  bosses  an'  a  yaller  bus,  so  mother  an'  Vi  kin  travel  erbout  ez 
big  ez  Queen  Vic." 

He  finally  requested  the  Tanner  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  so  it  was  placed  in 
the  bank,  as  an  interest  drawing  deposit,  subject  to  the  boy's  own  check. 

The  fiiot  time  Malvina  saw  Jim  after  his  return  from  the  drive,  she  went  up 
to  him,  and.  instead  of  quoting  scripture  at  him,  kissed  him  plumply  upon  the 
lips,  saying:  "I  would  much  rather  kiss  a  live  boy  than  a  dead  one.  and  I'm 
sure  that  if  you  had  been  brought  home  dead,  I  should  have  kissed  you  more 
than  once." 

Jim  looked  at  her  a  moment,  and  then  replied,  warmly:  "Miss  Malvina 
Mehitable,  that  kiss  was  better'n  a  peppermint  lozenge;  an'  if  ever  I  make  any 
more  trouble  in  your  class,  you  may  say  I'm  a  sculpin." 

And  this  so  pleased  Miss  McKenzie,  she  went  home  to  her  room  and 
thanked  the  Lord.  v-: ■•  ■ 


\ 


ifel 


CANOEING  ON  LAKE  ROSSIGNOL. 


LL  Tom's  promises  were  made  to 
keep.  Hr  promised  Jim  a  summer 
trip  on  Lake  Rossignol,  and  in  July 
summoned  him  to  make  ready  for 
the  outing. 

Namaquit  was  brought  over  from 
the  httle  lake,  where  Jim,  first  made 
her  acquaintance,  and  when  he  saw 
her  again,  she  was  nosing  the  river 
bank  at  the  landing  in  front  of  Tom's 
house. 

Having  loaded  their  little  cargo, 
and  seen  that  Towzer  was  duly  in- 
stalled amidships,  Tom  handed  Jim 
a  newly-made  paddle,  that  was  so 
nicely  shaped,  so  flexible  and  light, 
he  named  it  his  Spanker  Boom,  Under  the  combined  action  of  the  two  paddles, 
Namaquit  darted  up  the  stream  like  a  swallow. 

Hannah  stood  on  the  bank  waving  her  handkerchief  after  them,  with  Peggy 
at  her  side  imitating  her  movements. 

Vi  had  walked  with  Jim  from  Liverpool  to  Milton,  her  mother  having  given  a 
willing  consent,  and  she,  too,  stood  by  vigorously  waving  a  dainty  bit.  of  embroid- 
ered linen.  -      . 

"I  wish  we  were  going  with  them!"  said  Hannah,  longingly,  as  the 
canoe  disappeared  behind  an  intercepting  point. 

305 


206 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"I  don't!"  exclaimed  Peggy,  with  such  an  energy  of  dissent,  Hannah  was 
almost  surprised  out  of  her  propriety. 

"Oh,  if  we  were  only  going,  tool"  cried  Vi,  with  enthusiasm. 

"We  should  be  drowned  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours,"  Interrupted  Peggy, 
solemnly. 

"Not  with  them,"  rejoined  Vi,  promptly.  "Tom  would  save  you,  Towzer  would 
save  Hannah,  and  Jim  would — "  but  she  suddenly  paused,  and  ended  with  a  blush. 

"Would  save  vou,"  finished  Peggy,  with  a  faint  smile,  that  was  an  extraord- 
inary manifestation  of  levity  for  her.  "It's  a  nice  little  romance  you  are  figuring 
out,  to  be  sure;  but  three  more  in  that  crazy  bit  of  birch  bark  would  malce  us 
appear  ridiculous,  indeed!     They  are  tempting  Providence,  as  it  is." 

"Mercy,  Peggy!  You  are  enough  to  make  an  Icicle  shiver!"  exclaimed 
Hannah,  sharply.  "You  ought  to  know  that  when  Tom  and  Jim  get  into  anything 
in  the  shape  of  a  craft,  they  are  as  much  at  home  as  they  are  in  their  own 
skins.  Why  didn't  we  think  of  it,  and  borrow  Sam  Ford's  canoe  and  join  in  the 
trip?  VI  can  paddle  a  canoe  like  a  squaw,  and  swim  like  an  otter.  If  we  were 
to  upset,  there  wouldn't  be  enough  of  me  to  drown,  and  as  for  you,  you  are  so 
tall  and  thin,  you  could  wade  ashore  anywhere." 

"You  and  I  can  no  more  paddle  a  canoe  than  we  can  sail  on  a  broomstick, 
and  we  should  be  as  much  at  home  in  It  as  a  bird  would  be  In  a  fish  skin. 
Fancy  our  tumbling  Into  the  water!  We  could  swim  about  as  well  as  two  kegs 
of  shot,  we  are  so  bony." 

Hannah  was  so  much  Impressed  by  the  truth  of  Peggy's  remarks,  as  well  as 
by  the  temerity  of  her  manner  and  the  extraordinary  Independence  of  her 
opinions,  she  was  powerless  to  reply.  So  she  did  the  next  best  thing;  threw  her 
arm  around  VI  and  started  off  In  the  direction  of  the  cottage. 

Peggy  followed  timidly,  feeling  as  if  she  had  suddenly  become  possessed  of  a 
devil  In  daring  to  dispute  anything  Hannah  said. 

"Hannah!"  she  presently  called  out,  In  a  woe-begone  tone,  "are  you  angry 
with  me?" 

"Bless  your  soul,  Peggy!  What  has  got  Into  you?  As  If  I  could  ever  get 
mad  with  Tom's  wife,  and  she  such  an  Innocent  darling,  too!  Do  come  along! 
Are  you  jealous  because  I  am  hugging  VI?" 

"Jealous  of  VI?  That  would  be  funny,  Indeed!"  And  Peggy  hastened 
forward  and  took  hold  of  VI 's  left  hand. 

"You  are  spoiling  me."  laughed  VI. 

"Love  never  spoils  anything!"  exclaimed  Hannah,  giving  Vi  a  violent  hug  to 
emphasize  her  remark. 


^i- 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


207 


Spoils  nobody,"  assented  Peggy,  with  her  usual  submisslveness,  which  so 
pleased  Hannah,  she  was  willing  to  serve  her  slightest  wish  or  whim. 

The  trio  disappeared  in  Tom's  cottage,  where  Hannah  left  Peggy  to  entertain 
Vi.  while  she  prepared  the  dinner.  When  they  sat  down  to  eat,  Hannah  and 
Peggy  were  so  lively  and  entertaining  for  awhile,  Vi  forgot  that  she  was  a  young 
girl  sitting  with  two  women  who  were  comfortably  old. 

But  Hannah,  toward  the  close,  got  to  talking  about  Tom's  account  of  Jim's 
adventures  in  the  log  jam.  So  absorbed  did  she  become,  she  did  not  notice  the 
effect  produced  upon  Vi,  who,  until  that  moment,  had  never  heard  the  particulars 
of  the  incident.  Nor  was  she  brought  to  her  senses  until  Vi  gave  a  sigh  that 
bordered  dangerously  near  upon  a  sob. 

"Merciful  me!  What  am  I  doing?"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  lifted  her  eyes  to 
Vi's  white  face. 

"What  are  you  doing?  Do  you  want  to  frighten  the  child  to  death?"  And 
Peggy's  reproving  glance  almost  withered  Hannah,  as  she  added:  "What  is  the 
use  of  telling  the  story  over  again?"  •     .^ 

"Because  women  are  such  fools  they  never  can  rest  unless  they  are  dishing 
up  the  horrors  of  life,"  replied  Hannah,  stabbing  the  reputation  of  the  whole  sex 
for  the  sake  of  punishing  herself. 

"But  you  didn't  mean  anything,"  said  Vi,  generously. 

"Didn't  mean  anything!"  repeated  Peggy,  severely.  "'We  should  never 
send  our  words  to  sea  until  they  are  properly  ballasted,'  that  is  what  your  brother 
Tom  is  in  the  habit  of  suying.  Jim  is  alive,  and  so  what  is  the  use  of  crying 
over  him  as  if  he  were  buried."  V"  ..v 

At  this  Hannah  laughed  so  suddenly,  she  swallowed  her  tea  the  wrong  way, 
and  Peggy  went  to  her,  and  pounded  her  on  the  back  so  vigorously,  Hannah's 
spectacles  dropped  from  her  eyes  and  landed  in  her  teacup,  which  appeared  so 
irresistibly  ludicrous  to  Vi,  she  came  near  choking,  too. 

Meanwhile,  Tom  and  Jim,  having  made  their  way  above  the  lower  portages 
of  the  river,  were  at  the  very  spot  where  Jim  came  so  near  losing  his  life.  The 
stream  was  low,  and  everything  looked  so  peaceful  and  beautiful,  it  was  difficult 
to  realize  that  dangers  had  ever  lurked  around  the  spot.    - 

"She  doesn't  look  so  hungry  for  a  Jonah  as  she  did  that  day  she  tried  to  take  me 
in,"  said  Jim,  pausing  in  his  paddling,  and  looking  around  pensively, 

"No,",  replied  Tom,  "but  she  is  a  deceitful  thing,  and  at  this  very  spot 
several  good  men  have  been  lost  during  the  spring  drives.  How  you  ever  got 
out  from  that  jam  of  logs  alive.  Is  a  mystery  to  me,  Jim."  And  it  made  the 
perspiration  start  on  Tom's  face,  as  he  thought  of  it. 


' 'W' '"^ 


208 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Jim  v/as  too  sober  to  reply,  and  nothing  was  heard  but  the  measured  dip  of 
their  paddles,  the  rippling  of  the  water  under  the  bow,  and  the  murmurous 
tinkling  of  a  small  brook  falling  into  the  stream  at  their  feet. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  entered  the  lower  part  of  Lake  Ros- 
signol,  the  whole  surface  of  which  was  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  there  being  not  a 
breath  of  wind  to  disturb  the  stillness. 

"Her  summer  duds  has  come!"  exclaimed  Jim,  in  admiration.  "She's 
dressed  herself  ez  ef  she  was  gonter  have  a  party  for  the  birds,  an'  the  brooks, 

an'  the  clouds  to  come  an'  look  at  her, 
'thout  money  an'  'thout  price.  I  tell 
you  what  it  is,  Mister  Tom,  the  ol'  sea, 
what  Is  forever  frownln'  Itself  Into 
wrinkles,  an  tearln'  Itself  inter  rags, 
can't  never  git  itself  inter  no  sich  rig  ez 
that.  My,  my!  She  makes  me  feel  ez 
ef  I  was  a  paddlin'  right  Inter  glory  an' 
no  one  at  the  gate  to  stick  me  for  a 
ticket." 

He  laid  his  paddle  across  the  gun- 
p  wales  of  the  canoe,  and,  leaning  on  his 
I  elbows,  looked  about  him  as  If  he  could 
I  not  feast  his  eyes  enough. 
'"'  Seeing  his  mood,  Tom  left  him  to  his 
thoughts,  and  devoted  himself  to  swing- 
ing on  his  bending  paddle,  with  a  move- 
ment that  was  the  perfection  of  grace  and 
skill.  Straight  as  an  arrow,  the  canoe 
sped  forward,  throwing  ripples  from  her 
bow,  that  glistened  In  the  slanting  light 
like  little  waves  of  liquid  silver.  So  clearly  was  the  sky  reflected  In  the  water, 
it  seemed  as  if  they  were  paddling  through  space,  and  so  plainly  were  the  shores 
reflected  along  the  edges  of  the  lake,  bottom  upward,  Jim  began  to  think  that 
he  too,  must  be  sitting  on  liis  head. 

Here  and  there,  the  water  was  rippled  into  circles  caused  by  fish  leaping  Into 
the  air  after  the  insects  hovering  over  the  surface.  Swallows  dipped  themselves 
in  the  limpid  floods,  and  sped  away,  shaking  diamonds  from  their  wings.  Over- 
head, a  great  gray  eagle  poised  himself  like  a  single  punctuation  point  in  the  sky, 
whence  he  suddenly  descended,  with  the  rapidity  of  a  stone,  until,  striking  upon 


ENJOYING  THE  SCENERY. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


209 


I 


the  water,  he  shattered  the  mirror  Into  multitudes  of  fragments.  Emerging 
from  the  lake,  with  a  big  fish  In  his  talons,  he  slowly  moved  toward  the  shore, 
where  he  was  soon  hidden  in  the  woods. 

It  was  all  as  beautiful  as  a  dream  to  Jim,  and,  now  impelled  by  a  sudden 
inspiration  which  bore  him  irresistibly  on,  he  swung  his  paddle,  measuring  his 
strength  and  timing  his  stroke  with  Tom's  swift,  gliding  motions. 

Presently  Tom  broke  Into  the  following  song: 


If  you  want  to  win  your  way, 

Strike  a  Hue  that'8  straight  and  true; 
Watch  your  way-marks  every  day, 
And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 
Paddle  your  own  canoe. 
Paddle  your  own  canoe; 
Watch  your  way-marks  every  day, 
And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 

Let  the  air  be  warm  or  chill. 

Or  the  sky  look  black  or  bluej 

Swing  your  paddle  with  a  will, 

And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 

Paddle  your  own  canoe, 

Paddle  your  own  canoe; 

Swing  your  paddle  with  a  will, 

And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 

He  who  whines,  or  fumes  and  freti, 

Or  waits  for  the  world  to  woo, 
Never  to  the  landing  gets, 
Nor  paddles  his  own  canoe, 
Paddles  his  own  canoe, 
Paddles  his  own  canoe; 
Never  to  the  landing  gets, 
Nor  paddles  his  own  canoe. 

Ood  helps  him  who  paddles  well, 

Paddles  and  makes  no  ado; 
Then  dip,  dip,  for  dips  will  tell. 
In  paddling  your  own  canoe. 
Paddling  your  own  canoe. 
Paddling  your  own  canoe; 
Then  dip,  dip,  for  dips  will  tell, 
In  paddling  your  own  ci>.noe. 


Listening  to  Tom's  strong  and  not  unmusical  voice,  and  catching  the  inspira- 
tion of  his  words,  Jim  plied  his  paddle  as  If  the  canoe  were  a  soul  which  he  was 
propelling  over  the  lake  of  life.  And  the  canoe,  responding  to  the  now  rivalling 
strokes  of  the  two,  flung  the  water  from  her  prow  In  spurts,  and  left  a  foaming 

wake  behind,  whose  tiny  bubbles  glistened  with  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow. 
Tan  Pile  Jim  13 


210 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Did  you  git  that  outen  a  song-book,  or  did  you  jist  open  your  mouth  an'  let 
her  out?"  asiced  Jim,  as  soon  as  Tom  ceased  singing. 

'  "Ossian  McPherson,  who  once  lived  at  the  head  of  this  lake,  and  spent  a 
large  portion  of  his  time  canoeing,  fishing  and  hunting  here,  wrote  that 
song.  Jim." 

"And  did  he  paddle  his  own  canoe?" 

"Yes;  nobly!  Though  one  of  his  arms  was  a  mere  sprig  of  flesh  and  bones, 
pieced  out  with  an  iron  hook;  and,  thougli  he  had  only  one  eye,  he  made  his 
own  living,  and,  besides,  managed  to  do  a  good  deal  of  good.  When  he  was 
confined  to  his  house  by  winter,  he  used  to  amuse  himself  stringing  rhyn.es 
together.  But  it  took  deep  fishing  to  get  any  of  his  rhymes  together.  He 
chipped  his  own  grave-stone  out  of  a  piece  of  granite,  and  cut  into  it  these  words: 

'        'McPherson  dwells  not  'neath  this  sod;  '  ' 

His  soul  has  gone  to  meet  its  God. 
He  tried  to  live  an  honest  life, 
Although  he  never  had  a  wife. 
Pass  on,  poor  pilgrim,  shed  no  tear. 
For  only  dust  is  buried  here.' "' 

"Does  you  have  to  try  hard  to  be  honest,  when  you  hain't  got  no  wife.  Mister 
Tom?"  Jim  wonderlngly  asked,  thinking  of  what  a  tough  time  his  friend  must 
have  had  of  it,  during  his  long  bachelorship,  if  there  was  any  truth  in  the  back- 
woods poet's  intimation. 

"No;  not  if  you  are  thinking  of  getting  one  all  the  while  you  haven't  any," 
was  the  quick,  but  cautious,  reply. 

And,  while  speaking,  he  turned  Namaquit  toward  a  small  sand  beach,  that 
glittered  in  the  light  like  frosted  silver,  and  when  her  prow  touched  the  shore, 
he  exclaimed:  'Here  we  are,  at  Padnosquat  Point,  the  prettiest  spot  on 
Rossignol!" 

Glad  to  be  delivered  from  his  narrow  quarters,  Towzer  leaped  ashore  and  ran 
about  the  beach,  loudly  barking  his  joy.  '  r . 

As  soon  as  the  canoe  was  emptied  of  its  contents,  she  was  carried  to  the 
bush-line,  and  carefully  turned  bottom-up,  under  the  busheo.  With  no  other 
material  than  that  furnished  by  saplings  and  the  bark  of  the  birch,  they  soon 
made  a  roomy,  lean-to  shelter,  in  which  they  stowed  their  trappings,  after  laying 
down  a  luxurious  carpet  of  soft  cedar  boughs. 

When  evening  came,  a  big  fire  was  kindled  in  front  of  the  camp,  before 
which  the  two  sat  down  to  supper,  which  they  ate  from  their  tin  plates  and  cups 
with  a  relish  that  left  nothing  to  be  desired  in  the  way  of  sauce.    Their  knees 


.Hi?*: 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


211 


■  t 


'  I' 


formed  their  table,  and  the  nearest  earth  their  sideboard;  Towzer  looking  on 
wistfully,  occasionally  skillfully  catching  the  morsels  thrown  to  him  In  answer  to 
his  mute  prayers. 

"He  looks  ez  ef  his  soul  was  ez  big  ez  anybody's,"  said  Jim,  eyeing  him 
reflectively.  "An"  when  father  read  right  out  t'other  mornin'  that  there  wasn't 
no  dogs  in  heaven,  1  jist  thought  somebody  had  made  a  big  mistake." 


IN  CAMP. 

"But  didn't  the  Tanner  explain?"  asked  Tom,  sympathizing  with  his  young 
companion's  interest  in  good  dogs. 

"Not  till  Towzer  licked  it  outen  him." 

"Explain yourself ,  if  you  please,  my  boy." 

"Well,  father  made  an  orful  long  prayer  that  mornin',  an'  while  he  was  a 
goln'  on  like  the  river,  or  ez  ef  he'd  got  stuck  ahind  a  pulpit,  Towzer  went  slap 
up  to  him  an'  run  out  that  bed  blanket  uv  a  tongue  o'  his'n,  an'  licked  him  fore 
an'  aft  his  hull  face.  Father  said  'amen'  in  a  hurry,  but  ez  soon  ez  he  got  his 
eyes  open,  he  wiped  his  face  on  his  coat-tall  an'  ripped  out,  'Confound  it,To\wzerl 


i-MtS^ 


212 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


What  do  you  mean?'  An'  with  that,  that  'ere  dog  looked  so  pizon  mean  an' 
shamed,  father  begun  to  pat  him  on  the  head  like  he  was  a  baby,  an'  that  set  his 
stern  post  a  waggin'  at  slch  a  rate,  father  he  up  an'  says  to  him:  'That  verse 
about  dogs  didn't  mean  you,  Towzer.'  An'  when  he  seed  I  was  lookln'  at  him 
sort  o'  peekid-like,  he  says  to  me  ez  how  the  words,  'an'  without  is  dogs,'  meant 
that  when  two-leggid  folkses  begun  to  try  to  git  inter  the  New  Jerusalem,  none 
uv  them  what  was  pesky  would  have  any  show  at  all." 

"The  Tanner  is  a  sound  theologian." 

"What  sort  uv  a  critter  is  that.  Mister  Tom?" 

"H'm!  It's  asort  of  a  teacherwho  gives  the  preachers  points  to  work  out." 
And  Tom  felt  as  if  he  were  getting  into  deep  waters. 

"Then  father  is  one  uv  them  fellers,  for  he  kin  give  preachers  more  pints 
than  they  kin  box." 

"He  is  a  great  friend  of  preachers,"  after  a  long  pause. 

"Yis;  he  allers  was  a  friend  o'  publerkins  an'  sinners." 

Jim  couldn't  understand  why  Tom  laughed  at  his  well-intended  admission, 
and  as  no  explanation  was  offered,  he  went  to  work  on  his  rod  and  gun,  to  see 
that  they  were  in  shape  for  service.  Tom  following  his  example. 

When  Jim  laid  himself  down  upon  his  fragrant  cedar  bed,  with  the  glowing 
fire  sending  out  its  flickering  and  fantastic  lights  into  the  deep  darkness  of  the 
woods,  he -got  quite  a  fright,  after  Tom  fell  asleep  and  began  to  play  his  lumber 
camp  tunes.  The  queerest  creature  he  ever  saw  in  his  life,  stood  about  fifty 
feet  away,  looking  directly  in  upon  him.  It  was  over  twenty  feet  high,  with  a 
body  two  feet  through;  a  big,  bulging  head  on  top,  covered  with  a  thick,  waving 
bunch  of  hair.  There  were  two  monstrous,  black  eyes,  and  the  two  arms,  with 
long,  scraggly  fingers  attached,  were  lifted  up  as  if  the  creature  were  trying 
either  to  get  at  him,  or  to  pronounce  a  benediction  over  something. 

Just  as  Jim  was  about  to  rouse  Tom,  he  discovered  that  it  was  only  an  old, 
stripped,  stunted,  gnarled  cedar  tree  which  was  making  a  desperate  attempt  to 
live.  The  two  eyes  were  two  holes  made  by  woodpeckers  for  nests,  while,  just 
below,  were  the  irregularities,  which,  under  the  lights  and  shadows  of  the  fire, 
answered  very  well  for  nose  and  mouth.  In  the  clear  light  of  day,  it  had  not 
been  noticed,  but  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  it  looked  decidedly  preternatural. 

Having  found  out  what  it  was,  and  named  it  Malvina  Padnosquat,  and  men- 
tally charged  it  to  take  care  of  him  and  Tom  till  morning,  he  fell  asleep. 

When  he  awoke,  at  daylight,  the  vapors  hung  over  the  woods  and  waters  so 
thickly,  and  hovered  around  Miss  Padnosquat  so  strangely,  it  looked  as  if  she 
were  trying  to  put  on  a  grey  gown  before  the  boys  got  out  of  bed. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


213 


"And  now  for  something  fresh  for  breakfast!"  exclaimed  Tom,  tumbling  out 
of  camp  in  a  headlong  way.  In  twenty  minutes  they  reached  the  banks  of  a 
foaming  brook  which  emptied  into  the  lake.  The  trout  were  plentiful  as  long  as 
the  vapors  continued,  and  the  fishers  soon  had  an  ample  supply  for  both  break- 
fast and  dinner. 

While  Tom  and  Jim  were  skinning  the  trout  on  a  piece  of  drift  board,  and 
making  them  ready  for  the  frying  pan,  the  sun  rose  over  the  tops  of  the  trees, 
and  the  vapors  rolled  away  from  the  surface  of  the  lake  in  pretty  little  clouds 
and  sheets. 

"She's  puttin'  off  her  night-gown  an'  fixin'  up  for  her  parlor  show  agin,"  said 
Jim,  pausing  in  his  work,  and  watching  the  rapid  unveiling  of  the  islands  and  shores. 

"Yes,"  was  the  reply.     "It  reminds  me  of  the  resurrection  morn,  when  the 
fogs  and  vapors  shall  be  rolled  away  from 
us,  and  Christ  shall  shine  upon  u&,  and 
make  us  beautiful  and   pure  in  his  own 
shining." 

"Why,  you  sounds  jist  like  father. 
Mister  Tom,"  said  Jim,  reverently,  recall- 
ing some  of  the  Tanner's  sweet  and  whole- 
some morning  lessons,  and  thinking  of 
home  and  Ruth  with  a  grateful  heart. 

"You  mustn't  mention  me  in  the  same 
breath  with  the  Tanner,"  said  Tom,  quickly.  ^ 
"He  is  a  good  man,  and  I  am  a  sinner." 
"Pertaters  an'  raisins.  Mister  Tom!  Ef 
you've  got  any  sin  stowed  away  among 
your  bones,  it  never  gits  a  chance  to  stick  its  horns  out;  leastwise,  I  never  seed 
any.  Hows' mever,  every  feller  knows  his  own  self  best.  I  kin  give  my  affidavy 
to  that,  for  I  feels  orful  streaky  and  nubbly  myself  sometimes."* 

Breakfast  over,  they  spent  most  of  the  day  in  fishing  and  hunting,  for  besides 
the  trout  in  the  streams,  there  were  ducks  in  the  coves,  snipe  on  the  beaches, 
partridges  in  the  woods,  and  here  and  there  a  rabbit  or  a  fox  squirrel  to  keep 
their  guns  In  practice. 

When  night  found  them  they  had  canoed  ten  miles  above  their  morning 
start,  and  were  stopping  at,  what  Jim  called,  "the  Peggysis  Hotel,"  that  consisted 
of  the  shore  side  of  a  granite  cliff,  chiseled  into  all  sorts  of  shapes  by  the 
tremendous  forces  of  Nature.  ,,  -   ■.: .  y^  ',^   ^  - 

When,  after  supper,  they  lay  flat  on  their  backs  upon  the  thick,  grey  moss, 


"heavens!    don  t  skekr  me!" 


214 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


the  stars  blinked  at  them  in  such  a  near,  crls-crinkly  manner,  Jim  declared  that 
they  were  trying  to.  scrape  an  acquaintance. 

"What  be  they,  anyway.  Mister  Tom?  I've  watched  'em,  an'  watched  'em, 
time  an'  agin,  when  I've  been  a  layin'  on  a  pile  uv  rope  on  deck  at  sea,  an'  I 
could  never  make  no  more  head  nor  tail  on  'em,  than  I  could  uv  the  firelights, 
what  one  sees  shootin'  through  salt  water  in  the  night.  Yit  they'd  keep  a 
blinkin'  and  a  winkin'  at  me  ez  ef  they'd  say  lots  o'  things,  ef  they  only  know'd 
how  to  talk.'* 

"They  are  worlds!" 

'Heavens!     Don't  skeer  me!     But  you  means  leetle,  teenty  worlds?" 

"No;  most  of  them  could  swallow  dozens  and  dozens  of  ours, and  never  have 
the  stomach  ache,  either." 

"An'  live  critters  in  them?"  ' 

"More  than  likely,  Jim." 

"But  I've  seen  some  uv  them  stars  tumble  through  the  sky  like  rockits,  an' 
ef  they  was  worlds  bigger' n  ours,  why  didn't  they  smash  ours  to  smithereens?" 

"Those  were  meteors,  Jim;  baby  worlds,  as  it  were,  that  died  in  the 
borning." 

"Mister  Tom,  you  is  talking  too  big  for  me,  but  ef  you  kin  stan'  it  to  think 
uv  sich  things,  1  reckon  I  kin  stan'  it  to  hear  you  go  on  about  'em." 

"Oh.  1  don't  let  such  things  frighten  me.  I  love  the  stars  as  much  as  I  do 
the  woods.  Some  time  we  may  go  canoeing  among  them,  just  as  we  have  been 
canoeing  among  the  beautiful  islands  of  Rossignol." 

"But  we'll  have  to  git  dead  fust!" 

"Yes;  just  as  we  had  to  get  born  first,  before  we  could  circulate  around  in 
this  world." 

"Well,  I'd  not  mind  that,  if  mother  and  father,  an'  Peggy  an*  you,  an' 
Hannah  an'  Vi,  an'  this  chap,  too,  could  bunch  together  in  the  same  canoe.' 

"Why,  Jim;  you  are  jingling  again,  like  a  hat  full  of  gold  shiners." 

'•How  kin  1  help  it,  when  you  have  a  feller  eround.what  is  allers  shoving  the 
shiners  inter  the  hat,  ez  thick  ez  the  stars  are  in  the  sky." 

At  this  moment  Towzer  began  to  growl,  and  presently  sprang  into  the  .woods, 
barking  like  mad, 

"Get  your  gun,  quick!"  said  Tom,  springing  for  his  own.  "Towzer  is  not 
making  all  that  fuss  for  nothing.  He  has  probably  treed  a  wildcat.  Whatever 
it  Is,  we  may  get  a  chance  at  it,  in  spite  of  the  darkness." 

Cautiously  advancing,  they  discovered  that  the  dog  was  worrying  something 
that  v/as  bigger  than  himself. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


215 


"By  Jove!"  exclaimed  Tom,  in  a  low  voice.  "That's  a  bear,  as  sure  as  I  am 
alive!  He  ought  to  have  had  more  sense  than  to  have  come  prowling  around 
where  there  are  two  guns  and  two  Nimrods,  and  a  Towzer  to  boot.  Now,  have 
a  care  there,  Jim;  go  slow,  and  keep  your  eyes  peeled  like  a  cat.  Don't  fire  till 
I  give  the  word,  or  we  may  get  into  trouble,     I'll  keep  ahead." 

The  bear  retreated,  and  climbed  into  the  forks  of  a  crooked  tree.  Tom 
fired,  and  the  bear  fell.  As  he  did  not  stir  after  the  fall,  Tom  struck  a  match, 
and,  lighting  a  strip  of  birch  bark,  slowly    ^  w  x  y,0^      ^^-^  /%^ 

advanced  toward  him.  "  ""      ^^"  '■     ■  ».  ^ 

"Dead  as  mutton  pie!"  shouted  Jim, 
rushing  by  Tom  in  the  direction  of  the 
bear. 

"Hold  on  there,  boy,  or  he  may  make 
mutton  pie  of  you;  he  may  not  be  as 
dead  as  he  looks." 

Jim  obeyed,  but  Towzer,  already  sat- 
isfied that  the  bear  would  never  disturb 
another  camp,  was  barking  at  a  great 
rate  over  the  carcass. 

"Dead,  and  no  mistake,"  said  Tom, 
giving  the  body  a  kick.  "But  it  was 
the  merest  random  shot  1  gave  him, 
and  we  shall  have  to  put  him  down  as 
'killed  by  accident.'  He  came  here 
hunting  for  our  game,  and  has  got  taken 
in  himself."  tbkeing  a  bear. 

They  skinned  him  where  he  was,  and,  after  cutting  a  few  steaks  from  his 
hindquarters,  delivered  him  over  to  Towzer. 

Jim  couldn't  go  to  bed  without  first  assuring  himself  that  bear's  meat  was 
good  eating,  and  the  smell  of  the  broiling  steak  he  held  over  the  fire  was  so 
appetizing,  Tom  fell  into  temptation  likewise. 

When  the  three  fell  asleep,  they  straightway  dreamed  the  woods  were  full 
of  bears.  Tom  got  treed  by  one  of  them,  the  biggest  of  the  lot,  who  kindly 
invited  him  to  descend,  by  saying:    "You  are  my  meat,  Mister  Tom!" 


i 


(L. 


shant 

with 

theg 


'  ''»'V'*'^«|!|!?H!|!WP'M!fW'J 


KdPterixni 

^  A  SUDDEN  CALL. 

N  THE  fourth  evening  of  their  out- 
ing, Tom  and  Jim  brought  up  at 
Hermit's  Point,  a  spur  of  land  be- 
longing to  an  island  heavily  covered 
with  timber  and  deep  ly  indented  with 
numerous  scollop-like  coves. 

McPherson's  Island  was  named 
after  the  one-eyed,  one-handed  hero 
of  obscure  life,  who  has  already  been 
spoken  of,  and  the  point  got  its  name 
from  being  the  spot  where  the  rustic 
angler  and  hunter  spent  his  sum- 
mers, enjoying  the  robust  freedom 
and  pleasi^es  of  the  wilderness. 
Straggling  American  anglers,  tired 
of  the  more  frequented  resorts,  oc- 
casionally found  their  way  to  Ros- 
signol,  and  to  the  hospitality  and 
companionship  of  the  "Poet  of  the 
Woods.  "- 

A  part  of  his  curious,  low,  rambling 
shanty  still  remained  on  the  Point,  and  into  this  Tom  and  j'im  bundled  themselves 
with  bag  and  baggage,  in  the  hope,  as  Tom  said:  "Of  getting  at  least  a  whiff  of 
the  ghost  of  the  man  who  could  say: 

'He  tried  to  Uve  an  honest  life,  - 

*  •    .,<  \.        Although  he  never  had  a  wife.' "      ,  »:^.'  ," -\ 


^i:r'-*i=5^fc^ 


218 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Intending  to  use  the  shanty  mainly  to  avail  themselves  of  the  sleeping  bunks 
with  which  it  was  fitted,  they  kindled  their  usual  evening  fire  outside,  and  at  a 
little  distance  away,  where  they  could  enjoy  the  softness  of  the  thick  moss,  the 
tremulous  movements  of  the  foliage,  the  telegraphy  of  the  stars,  and  the  ripples 
of  the  water,  singing  among  the  pebbles  along  the  shore. 

While  they  *^ere  stretched  out  with  feet  to  the  fire,  and  Tom,  Vy  his 
descriptions,  was  filling  the  woods  with  all  sorts  of  curious  creatures  and  things, 
and  Jim  was  listening  with  his  imagination  all  aglow,  Towzer  leaped  to  his  feet, 
and  ran  down  to  a  little  strip  of  white  sand  not  far  away.  By  the  time  Tom  and 
Jim  reached  the  beach,  a  canoe,  pushed  through  the  water  by  a  single  figure, 
shot  over  the  moonlit  waters,  and  landed  where  they  stood. 

"Why,  is  that  you,  Bellhead?"  exclaimed  Tom,  as  soon  as  the  "How-do"  of 
the  visitor,  uttered  in  bell-like  tones,  enabled  him  to  recognize  the  Micmac 
Indian,  who  went  by  that  expressive  nick-name. 

"B'lieve  um  is,"  replied  the  Indian,  as  he  stepped  out  of  his  canoe,  and 
pulled  It  upon  the  beach  with  a  final  grunt  of  satisfaction. 

"What  in  the  world  has  brought  you  out  upon  the  lake  this  time  of  night?" 
asked  Tom. 

"Come  a  huntin'  man  an'  boy." 

Tom's  apprehensions  were  aroused,  for  the  Indian's  manner  was  serious,  and 
he  anxiously  asked:    "What  has  happened,  Bellhead?" 

"Tanner,  him  berry  sick — wantee  boy  so  much,  berry  quick!" 

"Father!"  exclaimed  Jim,  excitedly.  "Father!  Has  anything  happened  to 
him?     He  never  gets  sick — what  is  the  matter  with  him?"  .i 

"Heap  sick  this  time.  See  Missus  Hannah  dis  mornin' — she  send  me. 
Say — tell  um.  come  berry  quick." 

This  was  all  he  knew  about  it,  but  the  fact  of  Hannah's  sending  such  a 
message  was  enough,  and  preparations  were  made  for  an  immediate  departure. 

"Don't  worry  too  much,"  said  Tom  to  Jim,  seeing  how  cast  down  he  was. 
"Nothing  can  keep  the  Tanner  upon  his  back  very  long.''  '  '• 

And  then,  by  way  of  diverting  his  attention,  as  well  as  satisfying  his  own 
curiosity,  he  asked:     "How  did  you  manage  to  find  us,  Bellhead?" 

"Know  you  stick  to  north  shore;  fish  keep  there.  Me  keep  paddlin'.eye  out 
doors  for  smoke.  By-me-by  see  um  fire,  like  red  spirit  lift  umself  in  trees  with 
white  smoke-cap  on,  and  spittin'  sparks  at  the  dark,  an'  then  I  know  you  was 
layin'  at-um  feet  to  warm  while-um  smile.    No  fool-um  liijun,  gittin'  in  haystack.'' 

Towzer  and  a  portion  of  the  camp  dunnage,  were  put  in  the  Indian's  canoe, 
by  his  own  direction,  as  a  means  of  equalizing  the  carriage, iie  insisting  that  in 


M'- 


TAN  PILE  JIM     ' 


219 


paddling  he  was  equal  to  two  white  men.  He  intended  to  take  the  lead  In  the 
night  voyage  down  the  lake,  and  he  wished  to  have  them  follow  him  closely. 

There  was  a  full  moon,  and  not  a  breath  of  wind,  and  when  Bellhead  shot 
out  from  the  point  with  his  canoe,  he  sped  so  swiftly  over  the  still  water,  Tom 
and  Jim  had  all  they  could  do  to  keep  up  with  him. 

Jim  was  too  much  depressed  to  utter  a  word,  and  the  stillness,  and  the 
solemn,  dream-like  scenery  of  the  lake  at  night,  but  added  to  his  depression, 
though  Tom  made  repeated  attempts  to  engage  him  in  conversation. 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


That  the  Tanner  was  sick  enough  to  make  it  necessary  to  send  for  him,  filled 
him  with  an  indefinable  terror,  and  there  were  moments  when  his  eyes  rained 
tears  at  the  bare  thought  of  anything  serious  happening  to  the  man  who  had  been 
such  a  rock  to  his  feet,  and  such  sunlight  to  his  life.  In  the  agony  of  hio 
anxiety,  he  bent  to  his  paddle  with  increasing  vigor,  impatient  of  every  moment 
and  every  mile  that  separated  him  from  home. 

Tom,  as  if  divining  his  thoughts,  put  extra  force  Into  his  own  strokes,  and 
Bellhead,  seeing  how  well  they  were  following,  was  put  to  greater  exertion  to 
keep  himself  well  aliead. 


220 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


In  an  hour  and  a  half  they  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  and  entered  the 
rippling  waters,  which  formed  the  outlet,  past  the  place,  known  in  the  local 
traditions  and  provincial  histories,  as  "The  Indian  Gardens." 

The  course  down  stream  was  more  difficult  to  follow,  as,  in  some  places,  the 
water  was  shallow,  and  the  overhanging  trees,  cutting  off  the  light  of  the  moon, 
cast  a  dense  gloom  upon  the  stream.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  rough 
scrapings  against  the  rocks  here  and  there,  and  an  occasional  touching  of  the 
bottom  in  some  places,  they  made  their  way  down  without  accident;  floating 
along  like  silent  spirits  clothed  upon  with  shadows.  Just  as  the  sun  began  to 
rise  over  the  hills,  they  completed  their  last  portage, 

A  wavering  colunin  of  thin,  white  smoke  rose  from  the  big  chimney  of  the 
Kenton  cottage.     Hannah  was  at  the  kitchen  stove  preparing  breakfast,  and 

Peggy  was  at  the  kitchen  stand,  trying  to 
wash  the  sleep  out  of  her  eyes,  by  appli- 
cations of  cool  water,  freshly  drawn  from 
the  old-fashioned  well,  whose  great  well- 
pole  lifted  itself  just  back  of  Shoes'  Rest. 
Towzer.  having   left   his  place   in  the 
canoe  the   instant  it  touched  the  bank, 
i  pushed  open  the  cottage  door,  and  sprang 
I  in  with  a  bark  that  made  the  house  ring. 
II'      "Bless  my  soul!"  exclaimed   Hannah, 
With    delight.        'Bellhead     has     found 
them!" 

"Found  them!"  repeated  Peggy,  hast- 
AN  INDIAN'S  GRATITUDE.  ettlng  to  dry  the  water  from  her  thin  face, 

and  to  push  back  the  mild  blonde  hair  from  her  high,  narrow,  blue-veined  fore- 
head. The  landing  being  but  a  few  rods  from  the  cottage,  the  two  immediately 
started  for  the  river  bank. 

"How  is  the  Tanner?"  asked  Tom,  as  soon  as  they  were  within  hail. 
"Poorly,  Tom!"  replied  Hannah,  softly. 

"He  um'll  git  well  an'  make  the  hair  fly  from  heaps  o'  hides,  yet,"  grunted 
Bellhead,  sympathizing  with  Jim's  anxiety,  and  trying,  in  his  rough  way,  to 
bolster  up  his  spirits,  i^^.    :^..,:^,^^^^^^.  .  ..    .,; 

Jim  would  have  started  for  home  immediately,  but  for  Tom's  remon- 
strance: "You  must  rest  a  little,  and  take  breakfast.  Jim,  and  then  I'll 
harness  up  Uncle  Sim's  old,  white  mare,  and  drive  you  down  myself  to  make  up 
for  lost  time. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


221 


"What  shall  I  pay  you.  Bellhead,  for  coming  after  us?"  he  continued,  turning 
to  the  Indian. 

"Pay  urn!"  grunted  the  Indian,  disdainfully.  "Tanner  my  friend;  send  me 
an'  my  squaw  bread,  when  I  was  sick  last  winter.  Mebbe  1  git  sick  agin,  an' 
want  more  bread;  pay  um  then." 

Tom  tried  to  make  him  take  three  dollars,  but  he  was  inflexible.  The 
luxury  of  showing  his  gratitude,  was  something  he  could  not  afford  to 
forego.  Hannah  made  him  go  in  to  breakfast  with  them,  though  he  pro- 
tested he  had  "heaps  o'  rye  bread  an'  smoked  herrings"  in  his  cabin,  which 
was  not  far  away. 


"I-ATHBB,  father!" 

When  the  old,  white  mare  got  Into  the  shafts  of  the  ancient,  two-wheeled 
shay,  and  Tom  gave  her  the  word  and  the  rein,  she  went  down  the  grade  to  the 
lower  town  with  a  speed  astonishing  for  a  pile  of  twenty-year-old  bones.  But 
fast  as  she  was,  Towzer  kept  far  in  advance. 

Ruth  met  Jim  at  the  door.  Her  face  was  wan  and  haggard,  and  her  eyes 
dim  and  Inflamed  with  weeping.  She  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  but  could  not 
utter  a  word,  so  dry  was  her  throat  and  uncertain  her  command  of  herself.    The 


222 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


change  in  her  appearancvj  appalled  the  boy.  Gently  releasing  himself,  he  silently 
hurried  to  the  room  where  he  knaw  he  should  find  the  Tanner.  The  Doctor  was 
there,  and  so  was  Vi,  but  he  took  scant  notice  of  either. 

The  Tanner  lay  on  the  bed.  motionless;  his  eyes  closed,  his  face  distorted, 
and  the  greater  part  of  him  dead  with  a  hopeless  paralysis. 

"Father,  father!"  was  all  Jim  could  say,  as  he  threw  an  arm  over  him,  and 
nestled  his  head  close  to  the  dear,  old  face. 

The  Tanner  opened  his  eyes,  as  if  with  difficulty;  a  light  shone  through  their 
vacancy,  and,  after  a  prolonged  effort,  he  uttered  the  single  word,  "Jim!" 

VI  beginning  to  sob,  and  the  Doctor,  unable  to  conceal  his  own  emotion,  took 
her  by  the  hand,  and  led  her  Into  another  room.  Ruth  came  in,  and,  kneeling 
beside  the  bed,  hid  her  face  in  the  coverings. 

Jim  reached  beneath  the  bedclothes,  for  a  touch  of  the  hands  that  had  been 
so  full  of  warmth  and  strength,  but  they  were  cold  and  nerveless  now,  and 
although  he  pressed  them  passionately,  they  gave  back  no  sign  of  response. 

"Oh,  my  father!"  he  cried,  filled  with  terror  and  grief.  His  head  fell  upon 
the  pillows,  and  his  sobs  shook  him  sorely.  The  Tanner  moved  his  head  slightly, 
laid  his  face  against  Jim's  wet  cheek  caressingly,  and  tried  to  speak,  but  this 
time  his  tongue  refused  its  office  entirely. 

Tom  came  quietly  in.  The  Tanner,  aware  of  his  presence,  fixed  a  long  and 
wistful  gaze  upon  him,  and  then  slowly  tried  to  turn  his  eyes  to  Jim,  who  was 
watching  every  sign  of  consciousness  with  hungry  eagerness. 

"Yes,"  said  Tom,  falteringly,  rightly  interpreting  the  Tanner's  look,  "I'll  look 
after  Jim." 

The  Doctor  returning,  glanced  at  the  sick  man,  and  whispered  to  Tom  that 
the  end  was  not  far  away.  An  hour  later  the  patient  rallied,  and  fixing  his  eyes 
on  Jim,  moved  his  lips  as  if  making  a  desperate  effort  to  speak.  Jim  held  his 
ear  down,  but  all  he  could  hear  was:  "The  black  cat — crow  and — mink — they; 
you — must — ." 

It  was  his  last  effort.  He  was  dead,  and  the  words  on  being  repeated  to 
Tom  were  taken  as  the  final  flickerings  of  a  mind  making  backward  flights  to 
some  childhood  day  and  association. 

The  Tanner  was  dead  and  in  his  grave  clothes — and  Jim  lay  face  down  upon 
a  flat  rock  by  the  river  side,  sobbing  his  heart  away,  while  the  river  rippled  softly 
by.  Thinking  of  the  morning  when  the  Tanner  took  him  from  the  tan  pile,  he 
had  gone  to  the  spot  where  he  took  off  his  old  clothes  and  cast  them  into  the 
stream.     It  was  from  that  very  stone  he  watched  the  old  garments  float  away. 

It  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  funeral,  and  the  hour  for  the  last  rites  was 


iPPHPinffPffl 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


223 


rapidly  approaching.  Tom  missed  Jim,  and,  searching  for  him  anxiously,  found 
him  face  downward  upon  the  stone.  The  sturdy  fellow  sat  down  by  him,  but  it 
was  moments  before  he  could  control  himself  enough  to  speak.  Well  he  knew 
what  Jim  was  going  through. 

"Come,  my  boy,"  he  said,  at  last,  laying  his  hand  tenderly  upon  his  head. 
"Ruth  wants  you;  she  is  left  to  you.  Go  to  her  and  be  strong.-  She  needs  all 
the  help  vou  can  give  to  her.     She  is  in  your  care  now." 


^.*'^ 


JIM'S  GRIEF. 


Jim  rose,  wiped  his  streaming  eyes;  but,  after  an  ineffectual  effort  to  subdue 
his  grief,  he  exclaimed:  "Oh,  Mister  Tom — how  can  I  live  without  him;  I'm 
not  half  made  yet!" 

It  was  a  great  concourse  that  gathered  at  the  Tanner's  cottage  to  do  honor 
to  the  memory  of  the  man  whose  blameless  life,  manly  ways,  generous  deeds, 
and  tender  heart,  had  won  all  classes  far  and  near.  The  preacher's  words  were 
true  enough,  and  tender  enough,  but  they  could  add  nothing  to  the  name  that 
had  a  brightness  all  its  own. 


224 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


While  the  clods  were  falling  upon  the  casket,  Jim  bravely  supported  Ruth, 
and  afterward  led  her  back  to  the  cottage,  where  he  held  back  his  own  sorrow, 
and  tried  to  comfort  her.  The  Tanner  and  his  wife  were  the  last  of  their  line,  and 
there  were  no  relatives  to  be  present  at  the  baked  meats  of  the  funeral  meal. 
Tom  and  Peggy,  and  Hannah,  together  with  the  Squire  and  his  family  were  the 
only  ones  present. 

It  was  little  that  Jim  could  eat.  It  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  had  returned 
perilously  near  to  the  black  world  of  friendlessness  from  which  the  Tanner  had 
plucked  him. 


T 

used 
was  1 
admit 
the  w 

genei 
ascei 
sche( 


?,'■ 


■M>-"ii;' 


r-xxi? 


A  CLOUD  BURST. 

HE  TANNER'S  will  was  of  recent 
date.  It  was  drawn  by  the  Squire, 
after  husband  and  wife  had  coun 
selled  together  long  and  secretly, 
as  to  the  best  disposition  of  their 
property,  in  the  absence  of  natural 
heirs,  and  in  view  of  Jim's  relation 
to  them.  The  tannery  and  the 
timber  lands  were  willed  to  Jim  direct.  The 
mill,  vessel  and  cottage  property  were  assigned 
to  Ruth,  with  reversal  provisions  which  gave  it 
to  the  new  heir,  in  case  he  survived  the  widow. 
There  were  numerous  conditions  and  guards 
covering  several  contingencies,  which  it  is  un- 
necessary to  speak  of  here. 
There  was  also  a  reference  to  "monies  on  hand,"  which  fell  to  Ruth,  to  be 
used  as  her  best  judgment  dictated,  and,  it  was  said,  that  an  account  of  these 
was  for  the  time  being  deferred,  for  sufficient  reason.  Tom  was  appointed 
administrator,  without  bonds  or  liability,  with  the  Squire  to  assist  In  inventorying 
the  whole  estate,  in  case  he  survived  the  Tanner. 

"Now,"  said  the  Squire,  after  reading  the  will  to  Ruth  and  Tom,  "as  the 
general  items  of  the  property  are  well  known  to  us,  it  only  remains  for  us  to 
ascertain  what  'monies'  were  referred  to,  then  we  can  make  out  the  whole 
schedule  without  further  delay.     Of  course,  Mr.  Payzant  has  left  behind  him 


Tan  Pile  Jim  14 


225 


■£ikUAj^\ 


226 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


papers  showing  the  amount  and  whereabouts  of  this  portion  of  the  property. 
Mrs.  Payzant  doubtless  can  tell  us  all  about  this  part  of  the  business." 

To  their  great  surprise,  Ruth  informed  them  that  her  husband  had  not 
mentioned  the  "monies"  in  their  private  conference,  no:  had  he  subsequently 
alluded  to  it. 

'In  that  case,  you  will,  beyond  question,  find  all  the  necessary  information 
among  his  private  papers  or  vouchers,"  L'lid  the  lawyer. 

Yet  when  the  papers  were  brought, 
nothing  was  found  that  bore  the  slight- 
est relation  to  the  matter. 

"But  there  must  be  a  strong  box 
somewhere,"  persisted  the  Squire,  be- 
coming more  and  more  perplexed. 
"Your  husband  was  known  to  have  the 
hahdling  of  a  good  deal  of  money,  and 
to  be  quite  forehanded.  There  must 
be  money  in  the  house,  or  certificates 
of  deposit." 

"I  know  of  no  strong  box,  nor  of 
any  certificates."  said  Ruth,  simply, 
to  their  increasing  astonishment.  "But 
we  can  search  the  house;  for  it  was 
one  of  my  husband's  peculiarities,  that 
while  he  always  supplied  me  with  all  the 
money  I  needed,  I  was  never  aware  of 
where  he  kept  rt.  He  used  to  say  to 
me,  in  jest,  as  I  always  thought,  if 
MOST  DNAccouNTABLB.  I    kncw    where    he    kept    his    cash, 

some  straggler  might  come  in  some  time  and  frighten  me  into  telling  him  where 
it  was." 

"And  it  was  another  of  his  peculiarities,"  remarked  Tom,  "  that  he  had 
little  or  no  faith  in  banking  institutions.  He  was  like  my  father  in  that  respect, 
who,  as  you  well  know,  would  never  deposit  a  dollar  with  a  bank.  And  when 
he  died,  we  found  doubleloons  scattered  around  in  all  sorts  of  corners,  but  on 
the  general  principle  that  where  they  were  most  exposed  they  would  be  the  least 
likely  to  be  looked  for  by  any  one  who  was  disposed  to  play  the  robber." 

The  house  was  thoroughly  searched  after  this  conversation,  but  without  avail, 
for  not  enough  money  was  found  to  meet  even  the  expenses  of  the  funeral. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


227 


"Well,  this  Is  most  unaccountable!"  said  the  old  lawyer,  scratching  his  pate 
in  the  most  v  :orous  manner.  "But  surely  we  shall  find  an  account  at  the  bank 
which  will  e.  in  the  mystery,  though,  as  one  of  the  directors,  I  never  knew  him 
to  deposit  m  v  there,  excepting  to  meet  his  ordinary  business  transactions. 
The  bank  is  cL.  r  to-day.     To-morrow  I  will  look  into  this  affair  thoroughly." 

Tom  visited  th.-  ^quire  on  the  succeeding  day,  and  the  two  went  to  the  bank 
together,  but  only  to  find  an  insignificant  sum  on  deposit,  which  had  been  placed 
there  to  meet  a  business  obligation. 

The  bank  officials  were  as  much  puzzled  as  were  Tom  and  the  Squire,  and 
suggested  that  the  Tanner  had  made  his  deposits  in  Yarmouth  or  Halifax.  But. 
in  any  event,  they  ought  to  be  able  to  find  the  evidence  of  it  somewhere  among 
the  Tanner's  effects. 

Another  search  was  instituted  at  the 
cottage,  this  time  extending  to  all  the 
pockets  of  the  Tanner's  clothes,  and  the 
ticking  of  his  bed,  yet  without  success. 
Tom  and  tiie  Squire  separated  in  silence, 
after  prosecuting  their  search  through  the 
most  likely  places  of  the  tannery  itself  to 
no  purpose. 

Two  days  afterward  the  Squire  drove  up 
to  ivlilton  to  consult  with  Tom,  for  the  more  /[ 
he  considered  the  more  he  was  perplexed. 
"It  is  very  extraordinary,  Mr.  Kenton," 
said  he,  "and  there  is  something  wrong 
somewhere.  Are  you  perfectly  sure  that 
that  Yankee  boy  is  all  right?  May  it  not-  be  possible  that  the  Tanner  and  his 
wife  have  been  deceived  in  him,  and  that  he  har.  something  to  do  with  this 
mystery.     He  is  a  very  sharp  boy,  you  know,  and  I " 

But  he  was  not  allowed  to  finish  the  sentence,  Tom's  face  was  on  fire,  as 
he  cried:  "Not  another  syllable,  sir.  in  that  direction.  The  idea  is  not  only 
monstrously  absurd,  it  is  brutally  cruel,  as  well.  If  you  value  your  peace  of 
mind,  you  will  take  good  care  never  to  whisper  such  a  thought  to  another 
living  soul." 

"Well,  I  have  given  you  a  hint,  and  if  you  don't  keep  your  eyes  open,  it 
won't  be  my  fault,  you  know.  You  are  sworn  to  administer  the  estate  to  the 
best  of  your  ability,  and  I  begin  to  think  the  Tanner  made  a  great  mistake  in  not 
putting  you  under  bonds  to  that  end."   ^ 


'NOT  ANOTHER  SYLLABLE,  SIB! 


228 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


Tom  was  furious  at  this,  but.  angry  as  he  v/as,  the  thought  of  himself  gave 
way  to  his  jealously  of  Jim's  reputation,  and  he  asked,  excitedly:  "Have  you 
said  anything  about  this  matter  to  your  family?" 

"I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  discussing  the  private  business  of  other  people  with 
my  family,  sir,  as  you  ought  to  know."  And  now  it  was  the  Squire's  turn  to 
get  red  in  the  face. 

"Well,  sir,  if  you  ever  do,  I'll  turn  the  whole  of  Queen's  County  on  your 
track,"  threatened  Tom,  fiercely,  disregarding  the  Squire's  lofty  manner. 

The  old  lawyer  was  a  member  of  parliament  from  his  district,  very  ambitious 
of  public  honors,  and  much  indebted  to  Tom's  influence  for  his  position  and  pros- 
pects in  that  direction.  He  therefore  got  away  from  the  tempest  he  had  raised 
as  soon  as  possible,  fully  determined  to  be  cautious,  yet  so  angry  that  he  drove 
his  old  rickety  horse  and  vehicle  with  a  vehemence  that  threatened  to  scatter 
them  in  fragments  along  the  road. 

"Confound  his  infernal  impudence!"  Tom  exclaimed,  as  soon  as  he  had  seen 
the  Squire  well  out  of  the  house. 

"Impudence,"  repeated  Peggy,  coming  to  his  side  in  time  to  hear  what,  to 
her,  was  an  awful  explosion.  "Whose  impudence,  Tom?  Why  are  you  so  red 
in  the  face?     What  has  put  you  in  such  a  state  of  mind?" 

"Oh,  the  devil!"  was  the  startling  ejaculation;  and  given  with  such  emphasis, 
Peggy,  who  had  never  heard  him  use  such  language,  started  back  in  affright. 

"The  ,"  but  the  word  was  too  terrible  for  her  to  repeat,  and  she 

retreated  in  dismay,  more  than  half  disposed  to  run  for  the  minister  to  come  and 
labor  and  pray  with  him.  •  . 

At  the  dinner  table,  Tom  was  as  sullen  as  a  bear,  and  he  bit  into  his  food 
like  one. 

"What  has  the  Squire  been  doing  to  upset  you  so?"  asked  Hannah,  who  ate 
half  her  meals  at  the  cottage,  and  never  hesitated  to  probe  Tom  to  the  full 
bent  of  her  mind,  when  there  seemed  to  be  any  occasion  for  probing. 

"The  Squire  be  hanged!  He  can't  upset  me  on  anything;  but  you  will,  Han, 
if  you  don't  have  the  goodness  to  mind  your  own  business!  Can't  a  fellow  feel 
a  bit  off  without  having  a  thousand  women  hobbling  around  after  him  with  gal- 
lons of  herb  tea?" 

The  dinner  was  finished  in  silence,  Peggy  viewing  her  irate  husband  with 
meek  amazement,  and  Hannah  watching  her  brother  with  undisguised  amuse- 
ment, which  was,  however,  saturated  through  and  through  with  a  curiosity  she 
knew  would  be  gratified  in  due  time. 

Some  days  after  the  visit  of  the  Squire,  Jim  met  his  old  enemy  of  the 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


229 


■ 


huckleberry  barrens  on  the  street,  by  whom  he  was  openly  hailed  with:    "Say; 
do  you  know  what  they  are  saying  about  you?' ' 
"No,"  was  the  unsuspicious  reply, 

"They  say  you  are  a  mighty  sly  fellow — a  regular  Yankee;  and  that  you  have 
been  stealing  the  Tanner's  money." 

Dazed  by  the  unexpected  insult,  which  had  been  all  the  more  confidently 
offered  because  Bill  Bryden  had  heard  that  the  Squire  was  responsible  for  the 
rumor,  Jim  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  he  had  been  turned  into  stone.  Coming 
to  his  senses,  and  to  a  partial  apprehension  of  the  meaning  of  Bryden's  words, 
he  sprang  toward  him  like  an  enraged 
tiger,  but  suddenly  checked  himself,  and 
turned  away,  followed  by  the  taunting 
laughter  of  his  enemy. 

He  remembered  the  Tanner's  last 
morning  lesson  on  "He  that  ruleth  his 
own  spirit  is  greater  than  he  that  taketh 
a  city."  It  was  this  that  checked  his 
fury  and  made  him  turn  from  his  enemy. 
And  it  was  well  that  he  was  thus  re- 
strained, for  his  first  impulse  was  to  kill 
Bill  Bryden  on  the  spot.  *■? 

It  was  now  he  began  to  realize  that  he 
had  of  late  been  shunned  by  some  ot  the 
villagers,  who  formerly  were  on  intimate 
terms  with  him,  and  he  was  left  in  no 
doubt  as  to  the  cause  of  it. 

Overwhelmed  with  this  new  sorrow 
he  went  to  Ruth,  and,  hiding  his  head  in  -*  taunt  from  his  old  enemy. 

her  lap,  yielded  to  the  shame  and  grief  which  came  to  him  more  keenly  than 
anything  he  had  ever  suffered  in  his  most  friendless  days. 

It  was  a  long  tim.e  before  Ruth  could  make  him  tell  his  trouble.  She  had 
received  no  intimation  of  the  rumors,  and  speedily  disposed  of  them  by  assuring 
him  that  it  was  only  the  talk  of  an  idle,  good  for  nothing,  who,  knowing  that  his 
chief  defender  was  no  more,  was  only  seeking  his  revenge. 

Meanwhile,  the  rumors  had  reached  Tom's  ears,  and  he  had  written  the 
Squire  a  scathing  letter,  accusing  him  of  breaking  his  implied  promise,  and  de- 
claring that  if  matters  were  not  set  right  he  would  go  to  Halifax  forthwith  and 
engage  the  best  lawyer  In  the  province  to  prosecute  him  for  slander. 


230 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  old  Squire  was  so  thunderstru  ^k,  he  hitched  up  his  horse  and  posted  to 
Milton  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  to  avert  the  gathering  storm.  He  well  knew  that 
Kenton  was  a  resolute  fellow,  and  that  once  he  got  started  on  a  thing,  nothing 
short  of  death  would  stop  hinrr. 

When  the  Squire  returned  to  Liverpool,  before  untackling  his  horse,  he  drove 
down  to  Bryden's,  and  from  thence  to  half  a  dozen  other  places  in  the  vain  hope 
of  turning  back  the  stream  of  evil  rumor  which  seemed  to  be  gathering  additional 
head  with  every  day.  The  farther  he  went,  and  the  more  he  learned,  the  more 
evident  it  became  that  he  himself  was  directly  responsible  for  what  had  gotten 
out,  in  that  he  had  incautiously  given  expression  to  his  suspicions  to  one  of  his 

fellow  bank  directors,  who  immediately,  on 
going  home  to  dinner,  made  free  with  the 
whole  affair  in  the  presence  of  his  family; 
and  when  things  are  told  in  the  family,  they 
soon  get  engraved  upon  the  sun. 

For  several  days  Jim  stuck  closely  to  the 
house,  and  his  misery  was  increased  by  the 
fact  that  Tom  didn't  come  near  him.  Could 
it  be  possible  that  he,  too,  shared  in  the  sus- 
!^  picions  to  which  Bryden  had  referred?  Ruth, 
i^  seeing  how  much  he  was  cast  down,  sent 
him  on  an  errand  to  Peggy  and  Hannah,  in 
the  hope  that  he  would  find  Tom  at  home, 
and  get  from  him  the  comfort  he  so  much 
needed. 

For  a  moment  he  stood  at  the  Kenton 
cottage  gate,  and  while  he  hesitated,  Tom 
"Tou  DOBSN'T  THINK  I'M  A  THIEF?"  ^rove  up  wlth  the  old,  whltc  mare,  and  with 
his  surveying  implements  in  the  shay,  for,  being  a  surveyor,  he  had  been  away 
on  a  three  days'  surveying  trip,  from  which  he  had  at  that  very  moment  returned. 
"Bless  your  soul,  my  boy!"  almost  shouted  the  big-hearted  fellow.  "I  was 
just  going  in  to  unload  my  traps,  and  say  a  word  to  the  old  girls,  and  then  I  was 
going  straight  down  to  see  you.     Seems  an  age  since  I  met  you." 

With  this  he  jumped  to  the  ground,  and  walked  toward  Jim  with  extended 
hand,  but  the  boy,  instead  of  taking  his  hand,  laid  his  own  hands  on  Tom's 
shoulders,  and,  looking  him  pleadingly  in  the  face,  said:  "Then  you  doesn't 
think  I'm  a  thief.  Mister  Tom?" 

Tom  knew  by  this,  as  well  as  by  the  haggard  look  upon  his  young  friend's 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


231 


face,  that  the  shaft  of  slander  had  reached  him,  f  ,or  a  moment  his  indigna- 
tion was  so  great,  he  bit  his  Ups  to  assist  him  in  re^j^ining  control  of  himself. 

"Look  here,  Jim,"  said  he,  slowly,  "I'm  in  the  Tanner's  place  now,  and  1 
want  to  ask  you,  what  you  think  he  would  say  to  a  question  like  that?  If  i 
were  to  hear  anybody  use  that  word  in  connection  with  your  name,  I  should  le 
tempted  to  pummel  him  into  a  jelly  And,  by  Jove!  I  have  more  than  half  a 
notion  to  pound  you  for  asking  me  such  a  question,  for  all  you  are  such  a  famous 
boxer." 

This  was  enough  for  the  boy,  and  the  cloud  passed  from  his  face  instantly, 
as  he  turned  to  greet  Peggy,  who  had  just  come  out. 

Hannah  followed  close  after,  and  as  she  had  not  seen  Jim  since  the  funeral, 
and  as  Tom  had  told  her  all  about  the  Squire's  interview,  and  the  rumors,  and 
the  letter  he  had  written  him,  she  gave  Jim  a  smacking  kiss,  and  led  him  off 
into  the  cottage,  where  she  deluged  him  with  questions  about  Ruth  and  their 
family  affairs. 

"We  intended  to  have  been  down  to  sea  you,"  said  she,  at  the  end  of  one  of 
her  onsets,  "but  that  Tom  of  ours  has  been  off  for  three  days,  and  as  we  wanted 
him  with  us.  we  have  been  waiting  for  him  to  get  back." 

She  little  knew  what  a  load  she  lifted  from  Jim  when  she  thus  casually 
alluded  to  Tom's  absence  from  home. 

Tom  worked  off  his  surplus  wrath  while  grooming  down  Uncle  Sim's  old 
mare,  and  the  worst  part  of  it  expired  when  he  poured  a  peck  of  oats  before  the 
patient  beast,  and  exclaimed:  "There,  old  nag;  stick  your  nose  into  them,  and 
thank  your  stars  you  are  not  a  human  being." 

When  he  got  into  the  cottage,  he  began  to  give  Jim  such  a  comical  account 
of  a  man  who  thought  he  was  going  to  run  away  with  part  of  his  land,  because 
he  was  surveying  near  it,  that  Jim  almost  forgot  his  troubles. 


rv   ^"i- 


'M 


THE   THREE    BLACKS. 

S  SOON  as  the  dinner  was  over  Tom 
led  the  way  to  the  Babylonian  Gar- 
dens, which  Jim  had  no  sooner 
reached  than  he  began  to  think  of 
Old  Cud  and  the  fiery  furnace. 

"I  see  it!  I  see  it!"  he  suddenly 
exclaimed,  as  he  sat  down  on  the 
wall  overhanging  the  cliff. 

"See  what?"  asked  Tom,  looking 
into  his  eyes,  but  only  to  discover  that 
far  off  look  which  sometimes  turned 
the  boys  eyes  into  fathomless  pools; 
and  it  was  a  look  which  made  Tom's 
heart  ache. 

"What  the  big  furniss  means;  an' 
I  reckons  I've  got  to  sweat  in  it  for  a 
spell." 

"But  you'll  come  out  of  it  without  so  much  as  the  smell  of  fire  upon  your 
garments,  never  fear,  my  good  fellow.  And  now  I  want  you  to  tell  me  what  you 
meant  by  asking  me  that  strange  question." 

And  so  Jim  told  him  what  Bill  Bryden  had  said.      -  -  *  --- 
"But  why  didn't  you  let  Malvina  and  the  Sunday  school  go  to  the  dogs,  and 
give  the  brute  another  huckleberry  licking?" 

Then  Jim  told  him  of  the  Tanner's  last  lesson,  and  the  reason  why  he  did  not. 

238 


234 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Yes,"  said  Tom,  almost  whimperingly,  "the  Tanner  was  a  whole  Sunday 
school  every  time  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  a  thousand  times  fitter  to  tea^h  you 
the  right  than  I  shall  ever  be.  And  you  have  become  such  a  good  scholar,  I 
think  I  shall  have  to  get  you  to  come  up  here  on  Sundays  and  give  me  a  few 
private  lessons.  You  were  right  in  taking  no  notice  of  that  dog  of  a  Bryden, 
You  need  not  trouble  yourself  about  your  reputation.  I'll  take  care  of  that;  I'm 
your  guardian,  you  know;  and  I'm  bound  to  look  after  your  character  as  the  best 
part  of  your  property;  although,  if  ft  were  left  entirely  in  your  own  keeping  It 
would  be  like  the  path  of  the  just,  which  shines  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect 
day." 

And  Tom  Kenton  had  so  exceeded  his  usually  slow  rate  of  speaking,  he  had 
to  stop  to  give  his  breath  a  chance  to  catch  up  with  him.  When  the  two  had 
got  together  once  more,  he  began  to  assure  j'im  that  he  need  give  himself  no 
anxiety  about  money  matters  on  Ruth's  account;  there  were  quite  a  number  of 
outstanding  credits,  which  could  be  easily  collected;  and,  besides,  the  shares  in 
the  mill  and  the  "Lady  Campbell"  were  so  valuable  they  could  be  sold  for  ready 
cash  at  almost  any  moment. 

"But  what  did  father  do  with  all  his  money?  He  used  to  take  in  lots  of  it 
from  the  tannery,  and  he  always  carried  it  into  the  house,  too.  I  don't  see  what 
could  have  become  of  it,  unless  he  stuck  it  in  the  wall  somewhere,"  said  Jim, 
after  a  long  pause,  in  which  he  seemed  to  be  in  deep  study.  The  bare  imputa- 
tion of  suspicion  had  made  him  keenly  alive  to  possibilities,  and  he  began  to 
wonder  if  there  was  not  some  place  in  the  house  which  the  Tanner  had  used  as 
a  secret  depository. 

Suddenly  his  brow  began  to  knit  as  if  with  a  new  and  perplexing  idea. 

"What  is  it,  Jim?"  asked  Tom,  solicitously,  fearing  that  the  cloud  had 
chilled  him  again. 

"Oh,  Mister  Tom!  d'ye  'suppose  it's  possible?"  was  the  almost  breathless 
response,  and  the  knot  cleared  away  from  his  forehead  as  if  fair  Hope  had 
touched  It  with  her  beautiful  hand. 

"You  will  have  to  tell  me  what  you  are  thinking  about,  before  I  can  answer," 
replied  Tom,  eagerly  surmising  that  the  boy  was  about  to  give  some  tangible 
clew. 

"Why,  I  was  agoing  up  stairs  one  day,  an'  father  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  an'  right  before  him  there  was  a  big  black  hole  I'd  never  seen  erfore,  an' 
it  frightened  me  so  I  run  back  agin  ez  fast  ez  I  could  cut."  /     ■ 

"Did  you  ever  look  for  the  hole  again,  or  ask  the  Tanner  anything  about  it?" 
and  Tom's  eyes  were  glistening  like  live  coals.      ,.  >      .      ■  .  - 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


235 


"No,  sir!  I  don't  never  go  pokin'  into  other  folkses  business,  onless  they 
sets  me  at  it.  Besides,  I  never  go  by  that  place  'thout  feelin'  a  crawlin'  do^n 
the  hull  o'  my  back  bone." 

Seized  by  a  sudden  inspiration,  Tom  exclaimed:  "Come  with  me,  my  boy; 
I'm  going  after  that  hole.  I  don't  know  what  you  are  thinking  about,  but  I  can 
guess  well  enough.  In  some  respects  the  Tanner  was  a  queer  man;  and  if  yoj 
saw  him  by  the  side  of  a  hole  in  the  wall,  it  is  time  we  were  standing  by  it  too." 


DISCOVER'NG   HIDDEN    WEALTH. 

And  the  old  white  mare  went  down  the  road  at  a  gallop  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance, and  Ruth  opened  her  eyes  widely  when  the  two  entered  and  told  her  what 
they  were  after.  She  was  incredulous,  for  she  assured  them  that  she  knew 
every  nook  and  corner  of  the  cottage  in  which  she  had  lived  over  fifty  years. 
But  she  had  no  objection  to  Tom's  hunting  the  whole  house  over  again,  if  he 
deemed  it  worth  while.  •  ;-;Uv.v 

"Now  show  me  that  place."  said  Tom  to  Jim.  ,"^^ 

In  the  center  of  the  house  was  a  big,  old-fashioned  chimney;  one  that  con- 


236 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


talned  almost  brick  enough  to  build  a  small,  modem  house.  This  chimney 
formed  one  of  the  boundaries  of  the  hallway  at  the  top  of  the  stairs.  The  front 
was  encased  in  elaborate,  old  style  panel-work.  In  this  hallway  stood  the  three, 
while  Jim  pointed  out  the  position  in  which  he  saw  the  Tanner  when  he  stood 
before  the  hole  in  the  wall. 

Tom  tapped  on  the  spot  and  became  greatly  excited  when  he  found  it 
hollow.  But  there  was  no  sign  of  an  opening,  until  after  working  on  the  center 
panel  for  a  while,  he  discovered  that  it  could  be  moved  upward.  Yet  when  the 
panel  was  moved  up  to  its  utmost  limit,  they  were  disappointed,  though  startled, 
to  find  that  the  dim  recess  had  nothing  in  it  but  a  stuffed  black  cat,  a  crow,  and 

a  black  mink;  all  three,  however,  so 
well  mounted  that  they  looked  almost 
as  natural  as  life. 

"By  love!"  exclaimed  Tom,   "that's 

enough  to  frighten  one  out  of  his  wits." 

"That's  what  father  tried  to  tell  me 

erbout  when  he  was  dying,"  cried  Jim, 

trembling  with  suppressed  excitement. 

"He  did,"  said  Tom,   in  an   under- 

breath,  as  he  suddenly  reached  forth  his 

hand  and  gave  a  pull  at  the  cat.     The 

cat  proving  unexpectedly  heavy,  he  ap- 

•/■*/■"" -T^-y  H\       j  ^ -y'-"  ■.\jjn  '  plied  more  strength  and  gave  a  jerk  at 

^i/'cl'f'''        '^4      '"         '  it,  when  lo!  the  skin  fell  to  pieces,  and  a 

GOING  FOB  THE  SQUIRE.  Stream  of  gold  and  silver  poured  from 

the  intestines,  and  spread  itself  in  a  shining  shower  upon  the  hall  carpet;  some 

of  the  larger  pieces  rolling  down  the  stairway  to  the  lower  floor. 

"Run  for  the  Squire,  Jim,  as  fast  as  your  legs  can  go,"  cried  Tom,  almost 
beside  himself  with  joy;  "but  don't  bring  anybody  else  with  you,  nor  let  anyone 
else  know  what  is  going  on  here."        .   •         .'        r    ,. 

The  Squire  was  in  his  office.  He  had  seen  Tom  and  Jim  drive  up  to  the 
cottage  at  a  "John  Gilpin"  rate,  and  naturally  inferred  that  he  would  soon  receive 
a  stormy  visit  from  them.  He  felt  quite  relieved  at  the  delay;  but  was  roughly 
upset,  when,  on  looking  out  of  his  window,  he  saw  Jim  running  toward  his  office 
and  leaping  the  fences  as  if  they  were  but  straws. 

Nor  were  his  fears  allayed,  when,  bursting  into  the  office,  r.nd  evidently  under 
great  excitement,  he  said:     "Mr.  Squire,  you  must  come  over  quick." 

Jim  didn't  wait  to  see  whether  his  call  was  obeyed  or  not,  but  hastened 


'^^^^1^ 


TAf  ^ILE  JIM 


237 


iney 
front 
iree, 
tood 


the 

ed. 

and 

so 

nost 


back  as  rapidly  as  he  came,  leaving  the  Squire  to  think  that  the  house  must 
be  on  fire. 

When  tht  old  lawyer  reached  the  kitchen  door,  into  which  Jim  had  disap- 
peared, he  met  Tom,  who  almost  pulled  him  through  the  door;  and  as  if  this 
were  not  sufficiently  startling,  he  deliberately  turned  and  locked  it. 

"Follow  me,"  was  all  the  greeting  he  received. 

Dazed  and  puffing,  and  not  knowing  but  what  he  was  going  to  be  murdered 
outright,  he  followed  at  Tom's  heels  until  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  in 
full  view  of  the  dismembered  cat  and  treasures  of  gold  and  of  silver. 

"What  do  you  call  that,  Squire?''  ar'  ad  Tom,  triumphantly.  "You  miserable, 
old  sinner!  What  do  you  think  of  Jim,  now?"  And  he  slapped  the  Squire  on 
the  back  with  such  gleeful  strength,  he  almost  knocked  the  breath  out  of  him. 

"God  save  the  Queen!"  gasped  the  eld  lawyer,  using  his  superlative  exclama- 
tion. "Where,  in  the  name  of  her  majesty,  did  you  find  that?  Did  it  come 
out  of  that  hole?" 

Tom  had  tested  the  weight  of  the  crow  and  the  mink,  and  found  that  they, 
too,  were  stuffed  to  the  brim,  so  to  speak.  "Have  the  goodness,"  said  he, 
grimly,  "to  lift  those  other  animals  out  of  the  hole." 

Shaking  from  head  to  feet,  the  Squire  attempted  to  do  as  he  was  directed, 
but  the  weight  baffled  his  feeble  hands,  and  Tom,  affecting  great  impatience, 
performed  the  task  himself,  and,  placing  the  crow  and  mink  upon  the  floor,  took 
his  knife  and  ripped  the  skins  from  end  to  end.  revealing  contents  similar  to 
those  which  had  filled  the  marvelous  cat. 

"Hurrahl"  exclaimed  Jim,  dancing  a  jig,  with  his  hands  upon  his  hips.  "That 
lets  me  out  of  Old  Cud's  furniss,  an'  no  one  won't  never  call  me  a  thief  no  more." 

"God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy!"  said  Ruth,  drawing  upon  the  end  of  her  apron 
for  strength  to  control  herself,  "no  honest  person  has  ever  dared  to  mention  your 
name  in  any  dishonorable  connection." 

The  Squire  winced  under  the  unintentional  blow,  but  he  was  as  honest  and 
frank  as  the  day,  and  when  convinced  of  error,  was  always  prompt  to  make  the 
best  reparation  in  his  power.  He  made  a  clean  breast  of  his  mistakes  to  Jim, 
then  and  there,  and  contritely  begged  forgiveness  for  the  injustice  he  had  done  him. 

"But  did  you  tell  Vi  what  you'd  been  a  thinkin'  erbout  me?"  asked  Jim, 
anxiously,  almost  indifferent  to  the  Squire's  apologies,  as  he  thought  of  the 
possibilities  involved  in  his  confession.  "Did  you.  Mister  Squire?  Is  that  why 
you  wouldn't  let  her  come  over  here  any  more?" 

"No;  I  didn't  tell  her,  but  she  knew  all  about  the  rumors." 

"An'  did  she  believe  them?"  gasped  the  boy,  in  great  distress.       ' 


I 


238 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Not  one  word;  and  when  I  forbade  her  being  any  longer  intimate  with  you, 
she  almost  cried  her  eyes  out." 

"May  I  go  an'  aslc  her  to  come  over  here  now?"  And  Jim  faced  the 
Squire  with  a  dignity  and  firmness  that  really  seemed  to  add  to  both  his  stature 
and  his  yean . 

"Yes;  go!  But  don't  bring  any  of  the  rest  of  them.  We  must  count  this 
money  and  talce  care  of  it,  before  we  indulge  in  any  more  sentiment." 

Jim  went  off  like  a  flash,  and  Vi  was  much  astonished  to  find  herself  sum- 
moned to  the  cottage  by  her  father,  through  Jim  as  the  messenger.    When  she 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  CROW,  THE  MINK,  AND  THE  OAT. 

ascended  the  stairs,  and  took  in  the  full  meaning  of  the  scene  before  her,  she 
threw  both  arms  around  Ruth,  and  kissed  her  most  fervently,  saying;  "I  knew 
Jim  would  die  before  he  would  so  much  as  touch  a  dishonest  penny.  But  oh,  it 
was  just  awful,  to  see  how  suspicious  people  had  become!" 

With  the  aid  of  Ruth's  apron,  and  Vi  s  gown,  and  Jim's  cap,  and  Tom's  hat, 
and  the  Squire's  trembling  hands,  the  money  was  carried  into  Jim's  room,  and 
poured  in  a  shining  heap  into  the  middle  of  his  bed,  preparatory  to  counting  it. 
As  they  counted  it,  it  was  put  in  thousand  dollar  piles  on  Jim's  table. 

"Seventeen  thousand,  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars  and  fifty  cents!' ' 


■^i&s:MM^!i^^si^. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


239 


read  Tom,  from  the  tally  he  held  in  his  hands.  "That  is  a  little  more  like  it! 
All's  well  that  ends  well!" 

'  Charity  veered  around  in  the  direction  of  the  Squire,  and  Jim  declared  that 
he  didn't  wonder  at  his  suspecting  that  something  was  wrong,  knowing  the 
Tanner's  business  affairs  as  well  as  he  did. 

"But  it  was  jist  killin'  me,"  he  added,  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  brow, 
the  moisture  having  made  a  sudden  start  at  the  bare  thought  of  being  really 
suspected  for  a  thief. 

"It's  the  queerest  bank  I  ever  heard  of,"  said  Tom.  "A  cat,  a  crow,  and  a 
mink,  and  all  of  them  as  black  as  coal.  Black's  Bank,  we  shall  have  to  call  it. 
How  did  the  Tanner  ever  come  to  happen  upon  such  an  idea?  That's  the 
mystery  of  it  all." 

Ruth  said,  that  twenty  years  before,  they  had  a  black  cat  which  was  a  favorite 
with  her  husband.  It  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ten,  and  he  took  it  to  the 
tannery,  saying  he  was  going  to  preserve  the  skin,  and  that  was  the  last  she  heard 
of  it,  until  she  recognized  its  skin  in  the  black  hole.  They  also  had  a  tame 
,  crow,  which  always  perched  on  the  Tanner's  chair  at  breakfc^st,  and  while  he 
performed  his  morning  devotions.  He  had  t? ught  it  to  talk,  and  it  always  said 
"amen"  at  the  close  of  his  prayers  with  the  gravity  of  a  preacher.  Indeed,  it 
had  almost  frightened  a  minister  out  of  his  senses  once  by  saying  "amen"  at 
the  close  of  a  long  grace  which  he  had  said  at  table,  he  being  unaware  of  the 
crow's  accomplishment's  and  piety.  Jack,  as  he  was  called,  died  of  a  fish  bone 
in  his  throat.  He  also  was  taken  to  the  tannery  to  be  skinned,  and  thenceforth 
was  heard  no  more  of.  Ruth  remembered  that  the  Tanner  once  shot  a  black 
mink  he  had  caught  scampering  off  with  one  of  their  pet  game  fowls.  This  she 
saw  him  skin,  but  that  was  the  end  of  her  knowledge  of  it.  She  couldn't  under- 
stand how  he  had  managed  to  arrange  the  hole  in  the  wall  without  her  knowl- 
edge, nor  why  he  had  chosen  such  extraordinary  repositories  for  his  money,  nor 
how  he  had  managed  to  keep  the  place  so  secret  for  so  many  years,  and  that, 
too,  when  she  was  about  the  house  the  most  of  the  time. 

On  examining  the  skins  more  closely  it  was  found  that  they  had  been 
most  carefully  prepared  for  the  use  they  were  to  serve.  In  their  backs 
there  were  narrow  slits  concealed  by  the  fur  and  feathers,  and  it  was 
through  these  slits  that  the  creatures  were  fed  to  the  full  with  silver  and 
gold. 

On  making  a  further  examination  of  the  hole  in  the  wall,  they  discovered,  in 
a  chink  of  the  bricks,  a  little,  yellow  pass  book  filled  with  figures,  which,  on 
being  footed  up,  tallied  exactly  with  the  money  they  had  counted.     From  the 


vpp 


240 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


way  In  which  the  deposits  ran,  it  was  eviaent  that  monies  once  deposited  were 
never  withdrawn. 

"And  look  here,  will  you!"  exclaimed  Tom.  "I  named  it  rightly."  And 
from  the  outside  of  the  pass  book,  he  read:  "James  Payzant,  in  account  with 
Black  Brothers,  Bankers,  Liverpool,  Queen's  County,  Nova  Scotia." 


THE  BANK  OFFICIALS  WERE  SCRPRISEO. 


The  Squire  drew  up  an  account  of  the  finding  of  the  money,  and  the  bank 
book,  and  this  was  signed  by  himself  and  Tom,  to  be  published  in  the  town 
paper,  as  a  public  vindication  of  Jim. 

Getting  a  pair  of  strong  buckets,  Tom  and  the  Squire  surprised  the  offi'  -^^Is 
of  the  town  bank  by  bringing  in  specie  deposits  by  the  pail  full,  and  i  was 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


241 


some  time  before  they  could  be  made  to  believe  the  evidences  of  their  own 
senses. 

Of  course,  Jim's  vindication  was  complete,  and,  as  was  natural,  he  became 
the  hero  of  both  town  and  county. 

The  whole  affair  got  into  all  the  Nova  Scotia  papers,  and  front  thence  was 
paragraphed  around  the  world. 

For  awhile  there  was  a  great  ransacking  of  all  sorts  of  out  of  the  way  places 
in  oM  houses  throughout  the  province,  and  every  old.  stuffed  animal  that  was 
found  in  garret  and  other  remote  portions  of  dwellings,  was  torn  in  pieces  in 
search  of  money.  And  the  strangest  feature  of  the  whole  case  was  the  fact, 
that  the  Tanner  was  not  alone  in  his  eccentricity.  Several  well  authenticated 
instahces  came  to  light  of  similar  oddities  on  the  part  of  others. 

At  Herring  Cove,  not  far  from  Liverpool,  a  black,  stuffed  cat,  which  for 
years  had  stood  undisturbed  upon  the  top  of  an  old  buffet  in  the  corner  of  a 
cottage  dining-room,  was  pulled  to  pieces — after  hearing  of  the  Black  Brothers' 
Bank — and  discovered  to  be  more  than  two-thirds  full  of  sovereigns  and 
doubleloons.  ^    -   .r^  .;       '     ^    .:  '  [■..-'''■^''"'"-^  - .r-''-:-^<">/. 

One  boy,  in  Barrington,  Nova  Scotia,  hearing  of  the  Liverpool  case,  had  a 
somewhat  singular  experience.  His  father,  a  clergyman,  with  a  large  family, 
lived  in  a  big,  old-fashioned,  gable-roof  house,  that  was  once  owned  by  a  smug- 
gler. One  Sunday,  the  boy  managed  to  escape  from  going  to  church,  and  when 
the  family  returned,  they  were  surprised  to  find  scattered  about  the  floors  of  the 
chambers,  an  odd  assortment  of  chests  of  tea,  rat-eaten  bales  of  silks  and  dry 
goods,  and  rusty  hardware  of  every  description.  The  boy  had  discovered  a  con- 
cealed chamber,  into  which  the  goods  had  been  piled  by  the  former  owner. 
Unfortunately  for  the  discoverer,  and  the  rest  of  the  family,  the  goods,  though 
originally  worth  hundreds  of  dollars,  were  worthless.  Even  the  tea.  though 
sealed  in  original  packages,  was  as  stale  as  if  it  had  been  steeped  a  thousand 
times. 

When  the  heir  of  the  former  owner  made  his  appearance  and  claimed  the 
goods,  he  was  allowed  to  take  them  away  without  opposition.  He  tried  hard  to 
doctor  the  teas  into  shape  again,  but  only  had  his  labor  for  his  pains. 


ItoaPUeJimlS 


in 


STRIKING    THE    HIGHWAY. 

NEW  world  opening  to  the  hero  of 
our  simple  story,  and  his  desire 
an  education  developing  rapidly,  he 
entered  Dartmouth  Academy,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years,  being 
eager  to  learn,  indomitably  persever- 
ing in  all  he  undertook,  and  as  honest 
and  genuine  under  the  new  as  he  was 
under  the  old  conditions  of  life,  he 
won  the  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he 
was  brought  in  contact,  and  come  out 
of  the  three  years'  course  at  the  head 
of  his  class. 

When  he  returned  home  from  his 

last  quarter  he  was  so   changed   in 

everything  but   his  native  sturdiness 

and  honesty  of  character,  that  there 

was  little  in  him  to  remind  one  of 

the  heap  of  rags  and  humanity  the 

Tanner  picked  up  from  the  tan  pile. 

The  precept,  "Be  strong  and  show  thyself  a  man,"  had  so  often  been  called 

to  Jim's  attention  by  the  Tanner,  it   became  his  chief  ambition  to  be  a  man  in 

the  true  sense  of  the  term.     And  constant  thinking  and  conduct  in  this  direction 

did  much  to  make  him  what  he  was. 

He  and  Vi  were  still  intimate;  nor  was  the  old  Squire  at  all  unwilling.    VJ 

S43 


244 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


had  become  as  handsome  as  she  was  good.  She,  too,  had  graduated  from  a 
seminary,  so  that  the  romping,  pretty  little  miss  had  developed  into  a  well- 
balanced  young  woman. 

We  have  refrained  from  using  the  somewhat  dubious  terms,  young  gentle- 
man and  young  lady,  because  we  think  the 
terms  young  man  and  young  woman  are  so 
much  more  expressive,  and  the  characters  de- 
scribed in  them  so  much  more  desirauie.  As 
ordinarily  used,  "young  gentleman"  describes  a 
shilly-shallying  specimen  addicted  to  canes,  col- 
lars and  cuffs;  and  "young  lady"  pictures  a 
dilly-dallying  specimen  given  to  kids,  feathers, 
jewelry,  juicelessness  and  uselessness. 

Young  man!  Young  woman!  These  are 
terms  that  need  no  gilding. 

One  morning,  shortly  after  Jim's  return,  he 
had  just  finished  reading  a  short  chapter  from 
the  Tanner's  big  Bible,  and  risen  from  a  short, 
comprehensive  morning  prayer,  when  the  Squire 
and  Vi  entered  with  a  Halifax  paper,  and  show- 
ing traces  of  excitement.  The  Squire  handed 
the  paper  to  Jim,  and  directed  his  attention  to 
the  following  advertisement: 

WANTED— INFORMATION  OP  ONE  JAMES 
Mulock,  who  ran  away  from  the  fishing 
schooner  Three  Bells,  of  Marblehead,  Captain 
Jacob  Barberry,  while  in  Yarmouth,  N.  S.,  June 
12, 18—.  He  had  a  Drown  birth-mark  on  his  right 
arm,  in  the  shape  of  a  large,  well-formed  cherry, 
just  above  the  elbow.  If  alive,  he  will  hear  of 
something  to  his  advantage  by  communicating 
with  JONAS  WILLIAMS.  Attorney,  Salem,  Mass. 

Having  read  it  aloud,  he  was  no  sooner  done 
than  Ruth  exclaimed:  "God  bless  me,  James! 
that  means  you!  Am  I  to  lose  my  boy?" 
And  she  hid  her  face  in  her  apron. 

"No,  mother;  not  as  long  as  I  am  alive! 
This  surprises  me,  and  I  must  go  up  and  see 
old  Tom.  It  means  me  beyond  question;  but  what  advantage  can  come  from 
taking  notice  of  it  is  more  than  I  can  conjecture." 


MISS  VI  SEBLT. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


245 


The  Squire  approved  his  intentions,  and  assured  him  on  his  knowledge  as  a 
lawyer  of  wide  experience,  that  the  advertisement  could  not  have  found  its  way 
into  the  papers  unless  there  was  something  important  behind  it. 

Jim  found  Tom,  Hannah  and  Peggy  mending  a  salmon  net  in  the  old  sitting 
room,  where  the  four  had  spent  so  many 
cheery  hours  together.     Tom  put  on  his 
spectacles  and   read   the  advertisement 
aloud. 

"Bless  my  heart,  Jim!"  exclaimed 
Hannah,  "we  can't  afford  to  have  you 
leave  us  and  Nova  Scotia." 

"Leave  us  and  Nova  Scotia,"  repeated 
Peggy,  with  more  energy  than  she  had 
shown  for  many  a  day. 

"If  he  has  rights  in  the  United  States, 
they  are  to  be  defended  as  well  as  those 
in  Nova  Scotia,"  remarked  Tom,  in  his 
matter  of  fact  way.  "This  should  be  at- 
tended to  at  once." 

Uncle  Sim's  old  white  mare,  still  alive, 
though  slightly  stiff  in  the  bones,  was  im- 
mediately hitched  up,  and  shortly  after 
stood  in  front  of  the  Squire's  office, 
where  the  two  had  gone  to  take  such 
steps  as  would  place  Jim  in  possession  of 
the  meaning  of  the  advertisement. 

The  Squire  drew  up  a  sort  of  affidavit, 
which,  after  being  signed  by  Jim,  Ruth, 
Tom  and  the  Squire,  was  sent  off  by  the 
next  mail. 

At  the  expiration  of  two  weeks  a  middle- 
aged  man  alighted  from  the  Yarmouth 
stage  and  inquired  for  the  office  of  Squire 
Seely.  Finding  that  venerable  worthy  in, 
he  introduced  himself  as  Jonas  Williams,  of  Salem,  and  he  had  travelled  all  the  way 
to  Liverpool  to  make  personal  inquiry  into  the  identity  of  the  alleged  James  Mulock. 
"I  think  you  will  find  there  Is  no  mistake  in  the  case,"  said  the  Squire,  after 
a  few  moments  of  conversation  with  the  American. 


JONAS  WILLIAMS,  LAWYER. 


I?;-'.' 


246 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


"Probably  not;    I   should   not   have   been  at  the  pains  to  come  all  the 

way  here,  had  I  not  been  confident  that  I  was  on  the  right  scent,"  replied  the 

lawyer,  who  proved  as  genial  as  he  was  intelligent. 

Jim  was  up  at  Tom's,  and  a  messen- 
ger being  sent  for  them  both,  they  were 
soon  in  the  presence  of  the  stranger.  It 
needed  but  a  short  time  for  the  alert 
American  to  demonstrate  to  his  own 
satisf. action  that  Jim  was  the  person  he 
was  in  quest  of;  and  this  being  settled, 
all  that  remained  was  the  putting  of  his 
evidence  in  written  form,  with  the  appro- 
priate signatures.  When  the  local  wit- 
nesses were  dismissed,  Mr.  Williams,  in 
the  presence  of  Jim,  Tom,  Ruth  and 
the  Squire,  made  the  following  formal 
declaration: 

"It  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to 
acknowledge  this  young  man  as  the  James 
Mulock  for  whom  we  have  been  seeking, 
and  I  take  all  the  greater  pleasure,  be- 
cause of  what  1  have  learned  of  his 
charaeter  and  standing  among  the  peo- 
ple with  whom  he  has  been  dwelling.  It 
now  becomes  my  duty  to  say  to  you  Mr. 
Mulock,  that  you  are  heir  to  a  large  pro- 
perty consisting  of  real  estate,  bank 
stock,  bank  funds,  and  a  flourishing  dry 
goods  business,  amounting  to  upwards  of 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  all  of 
which  awaits  your  appearance  in  the  city 
of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  There  are 
no  contestants  and  the  title  is  without  a 
flaw. 

"To    make    everything    clear,  It  Is 

necessary  for  me  to  make  you  acquainted  with  the  outlines  of  the  case. 

"Your  mother  was  the  only  child  of  a  rich  merchant  in  Salem,  whose  name 

was  James  Marchand.    Your  mother  having  married  a  clerk  against  her  father's 


TOM  IS  joTrxm 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


24t 


wishes,  and  his  prejudices  being  as  persistent  as  they  were  unreasonable,  she  was 
disinherited.  His  wife  having  died  before  him.  and  he  having  heard  of  the  death 
of  his  daughter's  husband,  and  of  her  having  had  a  son  as  the  Issue  of  that  mar- 
riage; and,  besides,  being  taken  with  a  mortal  disease,  he  made  a  will  leaving 
everything  to  that  Issue.  It  was  by  him  I  was  commissioned  to  make  every  pos- 
sible effort  to  discover  your  whereabouts,  he  having  learned  that  your  mother  * 
died  when  you  were  but  two  years  old.  I  ascertained  that  a  poor  woman,  who 
nursed  your  mother  In  her  last  sickness,  took  you  Into  her  care  and  that  she  did 
the  best  she  could  for  you  so  long  as  she  was  well.  Being  stricken  with  in- 
flammatory rheumatism,  and  having  no  means,  she  was  sent  to  the  almshouse, 
taking  you  with  her.  There  she  died,  leaving  you  a  public  charge  until  the 
authorities  apprenticed  you  to  one 
Captain  Barberry,  from  whom  I 
learned  the  particulars  which  led  to 
the  advertisement. 

"It  Is  true  that  the  estate  was 
devised  to  you  upon  certain  condi- 
tions, but  happily  your  standing  and 
character  are  such  that  the  condi- 
tions are  fully  answered,  and  I  there- 
fore have  no  hesitation  in  present- 
ing you  with  the  transcripts  of  the 
more  important  documents  bearing 
upon  your  Immediate  rights." 

And  the  lawyer  opened  his  satchel 
and  producing  the  voluminous  papers 
placed  them   in  Jim's  possession, 
who  received  them  mid  the  congratulations  and  tears  of  Ruth,  Tom  and  the 
Squire. 

"It  will  greatly  facilitate  our  proceedings,"  ontinued  the  lawyer,  "If  Mrs. 
Payzant  and  Mr.  Kenton,  and  Mr.  Seely  will  accompany  you  and  myself  to  Salem 
to  act  as  witnesses  In  the  final  proceedings." 

This  at  first  presented  a  formidable  difficulty,  which,  however,  after  a  little 
consideration,  was  easily  overcome. 

Pending  preparations  for  departure,  the  lawyer  became  Jim's  guest  at  the 
Tanner's  cottage,  where  he  was  soon  much  Interested  in  the  story  of  the  finding 
of  the  Tanner's  money,  and  In  the  black  hole  at  the  head  of  the  stairs,  which  was 
shown  to  him,  as  were  also  the  shrunken  fragments  of  the  black  cat,  crow  and  mink. 


EVEBT  BODY  WAS  AOOG  WITH 
BXCrrEMENT. 


.^^ 


248 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


When  Tom  went  home,  he  burst  into  the  house  with  a  hurrah  for  Mr. 
Mulock,  the  rich  man  of  Salem. 

"The  rich  man  of  Salem!"  exclaimed  Peggy,  throwing  up  ner  hands,  and 
begging  her  husband  to  remember  that  he  was  quite  too  old  to  be  addicted  to 
such  young  manners.  "Cool  yourself  down,  and  tell  us  what  you  mean,"  she 
ftdded. 

And  Tom  sat  down  and  told  the  whole  story,  accompanied  with  such  a 
shower  of  exclamations  from  Hannah,  and  such  a  succession  of  echoes  from 
Peggy,  he  had  to  advise  them  to  behave  themselves  with  the  coolness  becoming 
their  age. 

"And  I  am  to  go  to  Salem  with  him  to  see  him  settled  down;  and,  further- 
more. Ruth  and  the  Squire  are  going,  too. 

"Why  you  upset  me,"  cried  Hannah. 

"Upset  me,"  repeated  Peggy,  overwhelmed  at  the  thought  of  Tom's  being 
obliged  to  trust  himself  in  such  a  wild  place  as  the  United  States  for  even  a 
limited  space  of  time. 

But  Tom  got  up  and  began  to  whistle  "Yankee  Doodle"  with  such  a  piercing 
vehemence,  Peggy,  finding  herself  unable  to  repeat  him,  put  her  hand  to  her 
ears  to  shut  out  the  awful  tune,  while  Hannah  sat  by  and  laughed  till  she  cried. 

When  his  whistling  fever  had  expended  itself,  the  trio  joined  in  a  solemn 
parliament  over  the  whole  affair,  and,  while  rejoicing  in  Jim's  good  fortune, 
lamented  that  the  Tanner  was  not  alive,  and  that  the  Tan  Pile  Waif  was  to  dis- 
appear from  the  circle  to  which  he  had  so  greatly  endeared  himself. 

The  news  of  the  advertisement,  and  of  the  lawyer's  arrival,  had  already 
spread  through  Milton,  as  well  as  Liverpool,  and  everybody  was  agog  with 
excitement. 

Knowing  that  Tom  was  acquainted  with  all  the  particulars,  the  Milton  people 
beseiged  him  with  inquiries,  and  in  the  evening  they  kindled  an  immense  bonfire 
in  front  of  hl»  place  in  honor  of  Ji  ^^'s  good  fortune. 


Kd^pferxszn- 


'GOOD-BYE.  JTM: 

HE  Liverpool  and  Yarmouth  stage 
stood  at  the  gate  of  the  Tannery 
Cottage;  Ruth,  and  the  Squire,  and 
the  lawyer,  were  already  inside. 
There,  too,  were  Vi  and  Malvina 
Mehitable;  the  former  going  as  a 
companion  for  her  father,  and  the 
latter  as  a  sort  of  waiting  maid  to 
Ruth. 

The  lawyer,  having  rapidly  grown 
into  the  good  graces  of  all,  by  his 
cordial,  yet  gentle,  manners,  sat  be- 
tween the  two  maidens,  and  smiled 
as  benignly  and  conversed  as  freely 
as  if  he  had  been  acquainted  with 
Bluenoses  from  his  birth. 

A  large  number  of  townspeople 
stood  around  to  see  them  off,  and 
when  Tom  and  Jim  swung  themselves  to  the  top  of  the  stage,  and  gave  the  whip 
word  that  all  was  ready,  they  were  followed  by  a  rousing  cheer. 

"What  shall  we  do  now?"  asked  Hannah,  tearfully,  as  the  stage  disappeared 
among  the  pines  of  the  queen's  highwav. 

"Go  home  as  fast  as  we  can  go!'      .claimed  Peggy,  and  with  such  startling 
originality,  no  alternative  was  left  Hannah  but  to  obey. 

249 


^\>P'i'-^:AikJlL 


250 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  coach  was  traveling  on  the  very  road  over  which  Jim,  years  before,  had 
traveled,  a  friendless,  barefooted  boy. 

"It  seems  like  a  dream,  Tom,"  said  Jim,  "and  as  if  I  must  wake  up  and  find 
that  it  has  vanished  away  like  that  nice  house,  and  that  nice,  old  woman  I 
dreamed  of,  that  morning  I  slept  on  the  tan  pile."  His  memory  was  acute, and 
his  heart  full. 

"But  it  is  all  real  enough,  Jim,"  was  the  feeling  reply.  "And  what  Is  the 
best  part  of  it,  you  deserve  every  bit  of  it." 

"If  father  could  only  have  lived  to  share  In  the  pleasure  of  It,  my  cup  would 
be  full  to  overflowing."  And  his  voice  grew  husky  as  he  referred  to  the  man 
whose  memory  was  as  green  as  on  the  day  he  was  laid  away. 

^'But  he  knows  all  about  it,"  responded  Tom,  sturdily.  "And  doubtless,  Is 
clapping  his  hands  in  heaven,  in  joy  over  the  figures  we  are  making  on  the  road 
this  day.  He  doesn't  know  less  In  heaven  than  he  knew  on  earth,  depend  upon 
It."  And  Tom  spoke  with  such  downright  conviction  and  earnestness,  Jim 
caught  his  spirit  and  became  quite  lively. 

During*  the  journey  he  pointed  out  the  places  where  he  slept  on  his  long, 
boyhood  tramp  from  Yarmouth  to  Liverpool.  There  were  three  places  where 
he  had  been  treated  with  great  kindness.  Tom,  being  well  acquainted  with  the 
road,  and  with  many  living  on  it,  was  able  to  give  him  the  names  of  the  people, 
and  to  convince  him  that  they  were  still  residents  of  the  old  homesteads,  he 
said:  "The  families  living  hereabouts  are  not  like  sand-dunes— he "e  to-day,  and 
in  a  heap  somewhere  else  to-morrow."  Jim  pulled  out  his  note  book,  and  made 
a  memorandum  of  the  names,  saying  that  he  couldn't  afford  to  forget  any  of 
his  old  friends.  ■  ,    ;:   '  '      v   -  ■;•>• 

When  they  arrived  at  Yarmouth,  they  immediately  boarded  the  steamer 
Dominion  for  Boston,  where  they  arrived  the  next  day,  none  the  worse  for  the 
short  trip  across  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

On  reaching  Salem,  the  lawyer,  before  going  to  his  own  friends,  had  them 
driven  to  a  handsome,  brick  residence,  situated  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  in 
spacious  grounds  laid  out  in  the  highest  style  of  landscape  gardening. 

Two  servants,  a  gardener  and  a  coachman  met  them  at  the  door,  and  Jim 
was  Introduced  to  them  as  the  young  master  of  the  house. 

On  entering.the  lawyer,  hat  in  hand,  said:  "Mr.  Mulock,  while  standing  in 
this  broad  hallway,  and  before  leaving  you,  I  wish  to  welcome  you  to  your  own 
house,  and  to  express  the  hope  that  you  may  live  many  years  to  enjoy  it.  I 
have  taken  taken  the  liberty  to  telegraph  the  old  servants,  who  have  been  in 
your  grandfather's  employ,  and  whom  I  have  retained  to  take  care  of  the  place, 


to  hi 
gooc 
to  u: 
with 
you 
I  ha 
dut> 


I 


-  m 
pc 

R 
ro 


MM^H    S 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


251 


to  have  it  in  readiness  for  immediate  occupation,  You  will  find  the  house  in 
good  condition,  with  a  fine  stable  attached,  which,  doubtless,  you  will  know  how 
to  use  for  your  own  pleasure,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  guests  you  have  brought 
with  you.  As  I  am  the  sole  administrator  of  the  estate,  I  have  felt  free  to  put 
you  in  full  possession  in  advance  of  the  formalities  we  have  yet  to  comply  with. 
I  have  been  so  anxious  to  see  you  at  home  in  your  own  house,  I  have  felt  it  my 
duty  to  accompany  you  here  before  paying  my  respects  of  my  own  family." 


1 


TWO  SERVANTS,  A  GARDENER,  AND  A  COACHMAN  MET  THEM  AT  THE  DOOR. 

Warmly  thanking  the  lawyer  for  his  consideration,  and  making  an  appoint- 
ment for  a  near  date  for  the  completion  of  what  remained  to  be  done,  Jim  took 
possession,  and  his  legal  adviser  departed.     '    • 

'  After  consulting  with  the  servant  who  had  had  the  oversight  of  the  house, 
Ruth  was  conducted  to  the  best  chamber  the  premises  afforded.  This  was  a 
room  tinted  in  delicate  shades  of  cream  yellow,  with  just  enough  of  rich  coloring 


252 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


in  the  furniture  and  fittings  to  relieve  the  general  brightness.  Malvina  had  a 
pleasant  room  adjoining,  where  she  could  be  within  easy  call  of  the  woman  whom 
she  had  come  to  love  as  her  own  mother. 

VI  had  a  room  fitted  in  blue,  which,  with  its  outlook,  she  declared  the  per- 
fection of  loveliness.  Next  to  Vi's  room  was  one  finished  in  dark  red,  to  which 
her  father  was  introduced  as  his  dormitory  while  he  sojourned  in  the  "States." 

Above  these,  in  the  third  story,  commanding  a  superb  outlook,  Jim  and  Tom 
found  a  study  filled  with  books  and  paintings,  and  bits  of  fine  sculpture.  Leading 
out  from  opposite  sides  of  this  study  there  were  two  beautiful  chambers,  which 
the  two  took  possession  of,  declaring  they  were  good  enough  for  the  President  or 
the  Royal  household. 

The  furnishings  and  equipment  of  the  whole  house  gave  ample  proof  of  both 
the  wealth  and  taste  which  had  inspired  all  the  arrangements.  And  this  also 
held  true  of  the  grounds  and  all  the  outbuildings. 

Jim  would  have  made  an  immediate  tour  of  the  premises,  had  not  Tom, 
with  native  sagacity,  cautioned  him  against  any  undue  haste  or  curiosity,  as  tend- 
ing to  lower  him  In  the  eyes  of  the  servants. 

"Take  It  easy,  my  boy,"  said  he.  winking  at  him  suggestively,  "and  go  at  it 
slowly,  just  as  If  you  had  lived  in  a  palace  all  your  days.  Pin  feathers,  you 
know,  must  have  a  little  time  to  grow  before  they  can  become  fine  feathers. 
See  out  of  the  corners  of  your  eyes  all  you  can,  but  don't  let  anybody  catch  you 
staring  at  anything.  Take  your  cue  from  VI,  who  seems  to  slip  into  this  sort  of 
thing  as  if  she  were  born  with  a  silver  spoon  in  her  mouth.  Put  Malvina  r  n  her 
guard,  for,  although  she  has  been  so  good  at  kissing  Micmac  pappooses,  those 
big  grey  eyes  of  hers  open  as  if  she  were  in  danger  of  losing  her  brains  through 
her  eye-sockets.  As  for  Ruth,  she  is  such  a  royal  old  jewel,  she'll  fit  here  just 
as  well  as  she  will  fit  Into  heaven.  The  Squire  acts  a  little  dazed,  but  I  think 
he  will  live  to  get  back  to  his  cottage  by  the  river,  notwithstanding  this  over- 
whelming state  of  affairs.  As  for  myself,  I  feel  as  green  mid  these  surroundings 
as  a  young  cucumber  fresh  from  the  shelter  of  its  yellow  blossom;  y.>t,  I  intend 
to  act  as  if  I  were  as  ripe  as  a  full-grown  watermelon,  and  the  irst  thin^-  I  want 
you  to  do  in  the  morning  is  to  turn  out  that  splendid  black  span  of  horses,  black 
coachman,  livery  and  all,  and  give  me  a  drive  about  town.  It  will  be  my  only 
chance  of  making  a  splurge  in  America,  and  I  know  from  their  looks  that  they 
will  make  the  dust  fly. 

"God  bless  you,  old  fellow!"  said  Jim,  patting  him  gently  on  the  shoulder, 
"you  are  as  wise  as  Solomon,  and  shall  be  driven  about  to  your  heart's  content; 
but  you  will  have  no  objection  to  Vl's  taking  an  alrihg  with  us,  I  supposo." 


anc 

ha> 
all 
goi 
anr 
nol 
tas 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


253 


"Not  the  least,  my  good  fellow,  providing  you  will  leave  the  rest  behind  for 
another  time." 

Jim  laughed  heartily  at  this,  saying:  "I  see  what  you  mean;  you  wouldn't 
have  us  appear  as  if  we  were  a  brood  of  chickens  just  out  of  the  shell.  That's 
all  very  well  my  dear  old  boy;  but  on  the  other  hand,  you  musn't  think  that  I  am 
going  into  the  starch  business  because  my  fortunes  have  changed,  or  that  I  am 
ambitious  of  peacocks'  tails  because  Providence  has  given  me  wings.  Not  for 
nothing  have  I  lived  among  you  No^a  Scotians  and  enjoyed  the  liberties  and 
tasted  the  sweets  of  your  old-fashioned,  genuine  life." 

And  Tom  was  so  well  pleased  with  Jim's  reply,  he  dipped  his  hands  deeply 


i 

i  ^ 
1 


TOM  ENJOYS  A  DKIVB. 

into  his  pockets,  and  in  a  slightly  cracked  voice  sang  a  snatch  of  the  old  canoe 
song  of  Lake  Rossignol: 

If  you  want  to  win  your  way, 
'    Strike  a  line  that's  straight  and  true; 
Watch  your  way-marks  every  day, 
And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 

And  Jim,  scarcely  able  to  keep  back  the  tears,  joined  in  the  chorus: 

Paddle  your  own  canoe, 
Paddle  your  own  canoe; 
Watch  your  way-marks  every  day, 
And  paddle  your  own  canoe. 

And  then  they  shook  hands  and  began  to  clatter  about  the  canoe  Namaquit, 
and  about  Lakes  Quidnaquit  and  Rossignol. 


,M~^ummim 


254 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


The  next  morning  Tom  had  his  coveted  ride  behind  the  high-spirited  black 
span,  driven  by  the  blaclc  coachman  in  livery.  He  sat  by  Vi's  side,  saying  that 
he  wanted  to  imagine  himself  in  company  with  Peggy.  Jim  faced  him,  and 
listened  to  his  running  comments  and  sage  remarks  with  his  usual  interest  and 
amusement.  -     ^  ;       ,    _.;.^,^ 

The  Tanner  having  taught  Tom  Jim's  composition  about  Vi,  the  quaint,  old 
fellow  sank  back  upon  the  cushions  and  unctuously  repeated  thfe  words  which  we 
give  in  their  original  form: 


For  uv  all  the  sweet  gals  what  I  ever  seed. 
This  sweet  Silvur  Seele  jist  takes  the  lead, 
I'd  driv  hur  myself,  dressed  up  like  a  dandy, 
An'  at  every  shop  ud  by  hur  sum  candy; 
Hur  pokils  with  raisius  an"  dimons  I'd  fill. 
An'  never  drlv  wliar  Ihar  was  eny  ruff  hill. 


Vi  blushed  scarlet,  for  the  Tanner  had  quoted  the  lines  to  her  so  often, 
she  knew  thtm  by  heart.  While  Jim  iughed,  he  looked  into  her  partly 
averted  face  with  an  admiration  that  had  suffered  nothing  by  the  passage 
of  time.  ;        I  ■    '.  * 

Whan  they  got  back  from  their  dashing  ride,  the  lawyer  was  waiting  to 
conduct  the  claimant  and  his  witnesses  to  chambers  for  the  completion  of  tae 
formal  processes  which  were  to  place  him  in  full  possession  of  his  inheritance. 

Then  Mr.  Williams  drove  Jim  to  his  tenants  for  introduction,  and  to  the  ba:ik 
officials,  with  whom  he  was  to  be  brought  in  contact,  and  finally,  to  his  large, 
five-storisd  dry  goods  establishment—  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  in 
the  city — and  formally  presented  him  to  the  managers  and  employees,  who  were 
assembled  on  the  lower  floor  for  that  purpose. 

He  bore  tlie  severe  ordeal  so  well,  the  lawyer  was  pleased  as  well  as  sur- 
prised. He,  however,  forebore  complimenting  him.  deeming  if  bad  taste  to  do 
anything  that  would  seem  to  savor  of  patronage.  Whatever  he  did,  he  was 
governed  by  a  similar  delicacy  and  considerateness.  In  fact,  the  lawyer  was 
strictly  scrupulous,  and  held  that  a  man  of  his  profession  is  just  as  much  called 
to  his  work  as  the  minister  to  preach  the  gospel.  "Every  man,"  he  was  wont 
to  say.  "who  pursues  his  calling  in  an  honorable,  upright  way,  is  a  minister  to 
the  needs  of  his  fellow-being. 

He  had  become  much  pleased  with  the  straightforward  and  unaffected 
manners  of  his  Nova  Scotian  acquaintances,  and  the  next  morning  drove  over 
with  his  own  carriage  and  his  youngest  daughter,  and  Invited  Ruth,  Vi  and  the 


' 


|c 


•■SrM&iit-. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


255 


ck 

lai 
nd 
nd 

Id 

n 


Squire  to  accompany  him  to  Boston,  where  he  nearly  exhausted  them  with 
sight-seeing. 

Jim  and  Tom  were  confined  to  the  library  most  of  the  day,  transacting  im- 
portant business. 

It  was  arranged  that  Ruth  and  Malvina  were  to  remain  as  permanent  mem- 
bers of  the  new  household. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Ruth,  Jim  had  also  decided  that  all  the  timber  lands  he 
had  inherited  from  the  Tanner's  estate  should  be  deeded  to  Tom  for  the  con- 
sideration of  one  dollar.  Tom  protested  that  he  was  already  comfortably  fixed, 
but  Jim  was  inflexible.  The  tannery,  together  with  the  Tanner's  cottage,  were 
made  over  to  the  Squire,  and  the  papers  were  turned  over  to  Tom,  with  direc- 
tions not  to  give  them  into  the  Squire's  hands  until  his  return  home. 

"It's  all  right  for  people  to  feel  thankful,  but  it's  decidedly  embarrassing  to 
have  people  deluge  you  with  thanks  when  you  know  you  are  only  getting  rid  of 
that  which  is  of  no  particular  use  to  you.  Ruth  gives  the  cottage,  and  I  the 
tannery.  What  else  could  we  do,  when  we  know  that  the  property  can  only  be 
useful  to  those  who  live  in  the  vicinity?" 

Jim  had  already  given  directions  to  his  lawyer  to  have  the  remains  of  his 
own  father  and  mother  disinterred  from  the  separate  burial  grounds  where  they 
rested,  and  buried  side  by  side  in  the  Salem  cemetery.  It  was  the  least  h^  could 
do  in  memory  of  the  parents  he  had  never  known.  In  the  same  lot  was  to  be 
buried  the  remains  of  the  woman  who  had  watched  over  his  mother's  dying  bed 
and  taken  care  of  him  as  best  she  could  till  the  end  came. 

And  now  iie  settled  the  details  with  Tom  for  the  removal  of  the  Tanner's  re- 
mains to  the  same  place.  "It  will  make  mother  feel  more  contented,"  he  re- 
marked, "and  I  shall  be  the  better  and  stronger  from  knowing  that  his  dust  sleeps 
near.  His  power  over  me  is  so  strong,  to  even  this  day,  that  I  sometimes  feel 
as  if  his  great  and  noble  spirit  were  keeping  me  in  hail  wherever  I  go." 

"Stick  to  that  text,  my  boy!"  cried  Tom,  heartily,  "and  you  will  be  as  sound 
as  a  nut  in  all  the  rest  of  your  theology." 

"And  now  about  those  people  whose  names  you  gave,"  suddenly,  said  Jim. 

"What  people?"  asked  Tom  in  surprise. 

"Those  people  on  the  road  to  Liverpool,  who  gave  me  food  and  drink  when 
I  was  in  such  sore  need.  I  have  laid  out  three  of  the  best  silk  patterns  I  could 
find  in  all  my  store;  and  I  want  you  to  deliver  them  to  the  addresses  on  them 
on  your  way  back.  Inside  I  have  placed  letters  of  acknowledgement  and  ex- 
planation." 

"That  is  right,  my  boy!"  exclaimed  Tom,  choking  in  his  throat;  "and  I  shall 


256 


tAN  PILE  JIM 


do  It  with  the  grgatest  pleasure;  all  the  greater,  becaue  I  shall  feel  myself  at 
liberty  to  tell  them  a  bit  of  your  history.  It  will  become  a  tradition  along  the 
whole  line,  and  will  serve  to  make  people  think  twice  before  they  become  un- 
kind to  the  unfortunate." 

"Now,  there  is  another  little  matter  I  have  to  get  rid  of,  while  I  am  about 
it."  and  Jim  opened  the  lid  of  his  handsome  desk  and  took  out  three  small 
cases,  adding:  "There,  old  fellow,  is  a  gold  watch  for  yourself,  and  one  for 
Peggy  and  one  for  Hannah,  with  chains  to  match." 

"But  God  bless  my  soul,  jMm!  your  extravagance  will  turn  you  inside  out; 
and  the  sooner  you  belay  this  kind  of  business  the  better!" 

"Oh,  you  are  getting  foolish  in  your  old  age!  The  watches  go  only  where 
they  belong,  and  are  all  three  properly  engraved,  as  you  can  see  for  yourself.  If 
you  feel  uneasy  on  the  score  of  extravagance  I  can  set  you  wholly  at  your  ease, 
for  this  is  the  end  of  it.     What  do  you  suppose  I  intend  to  do?" 

"The  Lord  only  knows  what  you  will  do  next?" 

"I  am  going  into  that  store  of  mine  to  begin  at  the  lowest  counter,  so  that 
I  can  work  my  way  up  from  counter  to  counter  until  I  am  competent  to  take  the 
management  of  the  business  in  my  own  hand.  That  is  one  lesson  the  Tanner 
was  always  teaching  me.  And,  furthermore,  I  intend,  God  helping  me,  to  put 
his  honesty  and  straightforwardness  into  every  thread  and  shred  that  comes  into 
the  store,  and  into  every  item  of  business  transacted  there." 

"Here  we  are  again! '  exclaimed  Tom,  rising  and  extending  his  arms  as  if 
he  would  like  to  embrace  the  universe;  "and,  by  Jove,  sir,  we  are  as  straight  as 
that  first  pine  we  chopped  down  in  the  woods  of  dear  old  Rossignol." 

"And  when  I  have  completed  my  apprenticeship,  and  have  grown  ripe  enough 
to  marry,  I  shall  return  to  Liverpool  and  bring  Vi  here  for  good." 

"To  be  sure — to  be  sure!  What  else  can  we  do?  A  nobler  girl  never  wore 
shoe  leather  in  this  or  any  other  country.  If  we  were  to  think  of  doin^  other- 
wise the  Tanner's  bones  would  come  tumbling  about  our  ears  like  thunder- 
bolts." 

"I  have  adored  Vi  ever  since  the  day  of  the  huckleberry  battle,  when  she 
\,  ed  Bill  Bryden  and  threatened  him  with  arrest;  and  all  the  more  intensely, 
because  she  loved  me  when  I  had  nothing  behind  me  but  the  tan  pile  and  the 
poor  house,  and  nothing  before  me  but  a  life  of  obscurity.  Though  I  was  never 
very  loyal  to  Queen  Victoria,  I  was  always  loyal  to  Queen  S^Jvia." 

*God  Save  the  Queen!"  and  Tom  spoke  in  such  a  diplomatic,  double-ended 
manner,  and  blinked  and  winked  so  mischievously,  Jim  laughed  almost  boister- 
ously. 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


257 


The  Squire  and  Tom,  and  VI  remained  in  Salem  five  weeks,  and  Williams, 
the  lawyer,  advised  his  young  client  not  to  touch  his  business  while  tiiey  re- 
mained, saying  he  would  find  his  hands  full  when  once  he  began,  and  that  he 
ought  to  make  as  much  as  possible  of  the  old  friends  who  had  been  so  true 
to  him.  ;;  '.:'"' 

On  the  way  back.  Tom.  faithful  to  his  charge,  delivered  the  packages  to  the 
dwellers  by  the  wayside,  and  almost 
exhausted  the  patience  of  the  stage 
driver  by  the  the  time  he  took  to  tell 
the  surprised  recipients  of  the  whys 
and  wherefores  of  the  gifts. 

The  old  Squire  was  in  due  time 
placed  in  possession  of  the  papers  con- 
veying to  him  the  tannery  and  the 
tannery  cottage,  and  a  very  nice  thing 
he  made  out  of  them,  too.  The  tan- 
nery was  carried  on  at  a  good  profit, 
and  Peggysis  was  kept  at  work  until  he 
fell  to  pieces  from  sheer  exhaustion. 
The  cottage  was  given  to  his  oldest 
daughter  as  a  marriage  present. 

Poor  Towzer,  after  Jim's  departure, 
so  missed  his  young  master,  it  was  all 
in  vain  that  Hannah  and  Peggy  tried 
to  solace  him  by  frequent  visits.  One 
morning  he  was  found  curled  up  under 
Jim's  chamber  window  dead. 

Hannah  wore  her  watch  with  pride, 
and  so  did  Peggy,  her  own,  scrupul- 
ously imitating  Hannah  in  the  style  of 
the  wearing. 

The  Tanner's  remains  were  for- 
warded to  Salem,  as  agreed  upon,  and  upon  the  granite  monument  which  marks 
the  spot  where  they  repose,  are  these  words:  "I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  meat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink:  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me 
in.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one- of  the  least  of 
these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  Me." 

Jim's  plans  concerriing  his  business  were  carried  out  with  a  perseverance 


HBKK  MAL.VINA    MRHITAnLR    M  KENZIK  WAS 
FOUND    rtVEKY   STNUAV. 


I 


■r 

4 


258 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


which  won  the  admiration  of  all,  and  as  the  lawyer  had  not  been  reticent  about 
his  antecedents,  he  became  one  of  Salem's  most  popular  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness men. 

He  put  up  a  large  and  attractive  building  for  Sabbath  work  among  the  poor 
and  friendless,  where,  as  superintendent,  he  gathered  around  him  a  band  of  faith- 
ful workers,  who  were  in  full  sympathy  with  his  spirit  and  aims.  Here  Malvina 
Mehitable  McKenzie  was  to  be  found  every  Sunday,  prim  as  ever,  but  ripe  and 


gentle  as  if  she  had  caught  an  angel  and  tucked  it  away  in  the  biggest  corner  of 
her  heart. 

At  the  end  of  three  years  Jim  steamed  into  Liverpool  in  the  handsome  steam 
yacht  Namaquit,  all  his  own,  and  when  Vi  heard  the  gun  which  he  fired  to  an- 
"aounce  his  arrival,  she  remembered  the  dream  she  had  when  the  "Dove" 
returned  from  the  gale.  Her  heart  wns  all  a  flutter  as  she  looked  upon  the 
handsome  craft,  decked  from  stem  to  stern  with  gay  streamers. 

The  old  cannon  which  welcomed  the  "Dove"  back,  opened  its  throat  in 


I 


t 
■.■'I 


I     ■; 


TAN  PILE  JIM 


259 


lut 

ii- 

lor 
Ih- 

la 
id 


booming  welcome;  the  bell  on  the  old  church  rang  loudly,  and  the  hills  echoed 
back  the  tidings:      "He's  come!" 

The  marriage  took  place  on  the  awning-covered  decks  of  the  Namaquit, 
under  a  soft  moon-lit  June  sky,  Ruth  sitting  by  as  happy  as  if  she  had  received  a 
foretouch  of  the  dawning  glory  of  heaven,  and  Malvina  at  her  side  gently  reflect- 
ing the  radiance  of  her  venerated  and  beloved  mistress. 

Tom  declared  to  Peggy  that  if  it  were  not  for  his  Babylonian  Gardens  he 
would  emigrate  to  the  States  for  the  sake  of  having  his  bones  laid  near  the 
Tanner's. 

Hannah  and  Peggy,  and  Tom  were  at  the  wharf  to  see  the  pair  embark  for 
their  final  departure. 

"God  bleso  you  forever,  my  boy!"  said  Tom,  quiveringly. 

"Good-bye,  Jim!"  sobbed  Hannah,  who  declared  that  she  should  call  him 
Jim  to  the  end  of  her  days.  '.'  ■  •  .'-  ' 

Peggy,  who  was  almost  overawed  by  this  splendid  young  fellow,  whom  she 
persisted  in  calling  Mr.  Mulock,  so  far  forgot  herself  as  to  repeat  Hannah's  part- 
ing word's,  though  not  without  great  hesitation. 

"Good-bye— Jim!"  .      ■  ,       ,:.>. 


f 


t. 


7HE  EiJ^D. 


"■'■''"^^•'"mm^if! 


